XLVIII ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
CANADIAN UNITY. 
All civilization, as has been said of legislation, must be a com- 
promise. A compromise is not necessarily a disgraceful thing. Mind 
and body are of different composition, different qualities, different 
purposes, and vet in the one human being they are mysteriously inter- 
related and blended so that they act together, sympathize with one 
another, rejoice in the same good fortune or lament and suffer in the 
same misfortunes. So a country made up of different elements, com- 
posed of different local sections, even having different interests, can be 
skillfully bound together to make a substantial working unity. 
And so, while our key-note of progress in Canada is unity, vet, as 
these parallels show, this does not require an absolute uniformity. A 
forced unity might destroy effort and check progress. 
Unity with diversity is surely the true watchword for Canada. 
(a) Economic Conditions.— Kipling may say “O, East is east, and 
west is west”, but if Canada is to be a nationality, full-pulsed and dom- 
inant, there must be some “juste milieu,” some fair average of 
business community—of trade intcrest—between east and west. We 
cannot all live by shop and factory; we cannot all live as town or city 
middlemen or capitalists; we cannot all live from the school, the uni- 
versity, the church; nor can we all live from the farm or ranch, which is 
the hope of western Canada. 
But it is the duty of statesmen to help us all live by a comprehen- 
sive east-west or west-east policy, growing out of consideration of one 
interest for the other. 
Time was when Manitoba was dissatisfied and rebellious toward 
the Dominion. “Manitoba First!” was the ery. “ Appeal to the foot 
of the throne!” “Strike for an independent West!” These were 
heard in the western air. 
But wisdom sent forth her voice, and thoughtful, patriotie men of 
the west said “No! The east will deal justly with us. Our motto is 
‘An United Canada.’” ‘his was the answer of the wise. 
Patriotism, persistence and patience won the day, and we have 
to-day a satisfied and hopeful western Canada. Unity of spirit grows 
from equality of opportunity. Class privilege and the tyranny of 
capital have had their day. Character and achievement should be the 
true basis of respect between man and man, and between province and 
province. ‘Sense and worth” must be the binding tie of east and west. 
(6) Political differences.—Canadian unity, however, is quite com- 
patible with political difference. Party government seems the best 
expedient yet devised for the combination of a strong executive with 
a critical opposition, to correct mistakes and suggest alternative lines 
