L)ecember 0, 1917 
LAND & WATER 
LAND & WATER 
5, CHANCERY LANE, LONDON, W.C.2 
Telephone HOLBORN 2828. 
THURSDAY. DECEMBER 6. 1917 
CONTENTS 
PAGE 
I 
4 
7 
9 
II 
The New Crusaders. By Louis Raemaekers. 
Canada's Crisis. (Leader) 
riir Battle of Cambrai. By Hilaire Belloc. 
'^liodes's Imperial Dream. By Lewis R. Freeman. 
\nguste Rodin. By Arthur Symons. 
Industrial Self-Go vernment. By Jason. 
Psychology of the Spiritualist. Hv Charles Mercier. 13 
The Sewing Machine. By Etienne. ■ I4 
i-?ritish Birds (A Review). i? 
-sidelights on the \'ictorians. By J. C. Squire. 1^ 
I'iie War in Italy (Photographs). " 20 
Domtstic Economy. 22 
Presents for Service Men. 25 
CANADA'S CRISIS 
C.\NADA is facing the most vital crisis in her his- 
tory. The Conscription controversy has fanned 
into a blaze the long smouldering antagonism between 
the Imperialist and the Anti-British sections of 
the Dominion. Englishmen who are not familiar with the 
opposing elements which comprise the population of Canada, 
or with the political situation which has grown up as a natural 
consequence have dilficulty in appreciating the bitterness 
of the present electoral contest. It is still harder for them 
to realise the far-reaching results which may arise if Sir Robert 
Borden s Union Government is defeated at the polls. 
Broadly speaking, the people of Canada may be divided 
into three great sectors. First, those of British birth and 
descent who believe in British institutions and ideals, and 
look upon Canada.'s tie with the Motherland as a sacred 
possession. It is this sector which has, in the main, supplied 
the men who have fought so well and died so gloriously upon 
the fields of France and Flanders. Secondly the French- 
Canadian population, descendants of the original European 
settlers of Canada. At one time the French Canadians dwelt 
almost entirely in the Province of Quebec, but during recent 
years they ha\e migrated to Ontario and the West so that their 
influence is felt in many parts of the Dominion beyond their 
native province. As a whole, the F'rench Canadian has 
iVTnpathy with neither France nor Britain. Nor has he any 
real understanding of, nor liking for, his English-speaking 
fellow-citizen. So far as Canada is concerned, his national 
aspiration may be summed up in a phrase : " French Canada 
over all." The third element in Canadian life is the Alien ; the 
foreigners who, attracted by the boimdless resources of the 
Dominion have entered in great numbers, and are especially 
strong in Western Canada. This alien population includes 
many of enemy origin as well as a formidable hest from 
Scandinavia, Holland, Russia, etc. This element may be 
considered as opponents of Conscription, or of any other 
measure tending to enable Canada to exert all her powers 
towards winning the war. 
The Union Government was formed by Sir Robert Borden, 
the Conservative Prime Minister, with a view to uniting 
Canada for war purposes. It is responsible for the Conscrip- 
tion Act which has given rise to the present general election. 
It is composed of the English-speaking leaders of both parties 
with a small representation from F'rench Canada, the latter 
condition being due to the fact that Sir Wilfrid Laurier and his 
principal French-speaking supporters refused to join it. But 
tile Union Government has the support of all Canadians 
who are loyal to the British connection, and who desire that 
Canada should faithfully discharge her duty in the war. It 
is opposed by practically the wliole of the French Canadian 
jjopulation, and it is doubtful if Sir Robert Borden will carr\' 
five nnt of th'' s\-t\--rn'c >;eats in the province of Oucbec. It 
is also opposed by the alien element, ana oy tnat mevitable 
percentage of "slackers" which exists in everj- country 
and which does its utmost to evade service. Also by a few 
who place party loyalty above patriotism. 
The Opposition is led by Sir \\'i]frid Laurier with M. Bourassa 
and M. Lavergne as chief lieutenants. Englishmen who have 
read the eloquent speeches which, from time to time. Sir 
Wilfrid Laurier has uttered in the past may be surprised to 
learn that he i^ now the chosen leader of anti-British 
agitation in the Dominion. Canadians who have followed 
Sir Wilfrid Laurier's career, are not surprised. He has only 
recently dropped the mask of Imperialism, but throughout 
the whole of his Premiership the undercurrent of his pohcy 
tended to draw Canada away from the Motherland. When 
the South African war broke out Sir Wilfrid, it is recalled, 
opposed the sending of a Canadian Contingent. Then realis- 
ing that British Canada would not be denied the privilege of 
sharing some of the burden, he quickly yieldtd. But he showed 
little syinpathy towards the expedition. During the un- 
pleasant dispute which led to the retirement of Lord Dun- 
donald from the command of the Canadian Militia, Sir 
Wilfrid Laurier, amid the cheers of his French Canadian 
followers, described the British general as a " foreigner." 
At the polls during the election following on the " Reciprocity 
with the Uniteh States " campaign the Canadian people 
repudiated the suggestion that Canada's allegiance was for^ 
sale, and drove Sir Wilfrid Laurier from power. During 
this campagin Sir Wilfrid made a typical utterance to an 
American audience. " The ties," he said, " which exist 
between Canada and the British Empire are slowly, but 
surely, being severed." ■ ' 
Behind Sir Wilfrid Laurier stand the sinister figures of his 
two foremost supporters — the two men whose names, to 
British Canadians, are synonymous with treason, rebellion 
and reaction — MM. Bourassa and Lavergne. Throughout 
their public lives both have been bitter and persistent enemies 
of everything British. They are the acknowledged and ad- 
mired leaders of the French-Canadian Nationalists, who 
desire that the French population shall maintain a separate 
entity in Canada, viewing all national questions solely from 
the standpoint of F'rench Canadian advantage, holding the 
balance of power, having its own language, its own laws and 
custonis and special privileges. If this aspiration were 
fulfilled all hope of national unity in Canada would be at an 
end. It is interesting to note that the alliance between Sir Wilfrid 
Laurier and MM. Bourassa and Lavergne is of recent origin. 
While nominally following Sir Wilfrid's leadership, the two 
French Nationalist chiefs have, until the war, played their 
own hand. It was an opei\ secret that at one time Sir Wilfrid 
Laurier viewed their activities with suspicion and even alarm. 
Now if the forces of reaction win, it will be his two wayward 
followers who will place the sceptre of power in the hands 
of Sir WiUrid. 
The voting strength of British Canada has been weakened 
by the war. Many Canadians have died far the Empire. Many 
men of influence and energy are fighting tlie enemy at the Front, 
and cannot help against the enemy at home. The forces of 
reaction are at their strongest. By playing upon prejudices 
and jealousies, by wide promises, by strenuous anti-British 
propaganda, the Opposition seeks to make more inroads upon 
the supporters of the Union Government. French Canadian 
Nationalists realize that the circumstances of war have giv.en 
thim an unequalled opportunity to grasp heretofore unob- 
lainable power. If they win the election, Canada is theirs- - 
for a time at any rate. And they hope to entrench them- 
selves so firmly that the dream of French Canadians being tlie 
dominant people of the Dominion may become a reality, si. 
strongly established that even the return of the British 
♦Canadians, now abroad, would be unable to shatter it. 
It is a hard hour for Canada, and for all who are loyal to her 
and to the Empire to which she belongs. But upon lesser 
occasions she has defeated reaction. Her sons who are over- 
seas believe that she will rise to this greater occasion. If, 
however, the anti-British element should triumph at the 
polls, be assured that the battle is only beginning, for 
the Blood Loyal will know how to reckon with those 
who sold Canada in the hour of the Empire's peril. 
