Men who their duties know,
But know their rights, and knowing dare maintain.
*****
These constitute a State."
So (imitating indeed the ancient Greek of twenty-five centuries ago) wrote one who, born in a free State and spending much of his youth in the study of antiquity, gave most of his mature manhood to the service of Britain among the people of the East—he knew the people of England, of modern Europe and of India by personal converse, the people of the olden time through the written record. And who can gainsay this judgment of this Judge and Scholar?
Does the Canadian measure up to this standard? Do we our duties know?
Our duty is to make the most and the best of ourselves and of our opportunities—to live the life of a patriot and good citizen. Boasting were easy, self-flattery is the most seductive of all vices, and I would strive not to fall into the mistake of closing my eyes to the truth because it may be displeasing. No people is perfect, and mine own may be no nearer perfection than others; but this I say fearlessly and confidently, that Canadians are as a whole alive to their responsibilities, and that they do not forget.
In commerce, our ships are found in every sea, the product of our factories in every mart; our railways stretch from ocean to ocean, and from the Great Lakes far toward the realm of ice and snow; the forest and mountain solitudes of our giant land are being exploited and the plains made to blossom as the
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