Catholic Problems in Western CanadaDaly, George Thomas
Religion
Catholic Problems in Western Canada
Daly, George Thomas
Catholic Church -- Canada
Canada, after having bravely and generously solved the problems of war,
is now also facing "the greater problems of peace." This period of
reconstruction, more than that of the war, will test our national
fibre. The strain will be greater for the conflict is being lifted to
a higher plane, that of ideas. But nowhere in Canada will this vast
work of readjustment be more tangible than in our Great West. The
youth of that part of the country, and the dominating factors of the
national problem will, we believe, make the West the classical land of
reconstruction. A gradual evolution will bring our Eastern Provinces
to readjust themselves to the changing conditions of political and
economic life. The West, on the contrary, has in such matters the
beautiful qualities, the unlimited resources of youth, but also its
dangerous shortcomings. Daring, venturous, over-confident in
democracy, the Western mind is frequently most hasty and radical in its
conclusions. It has not been matured by time, that great teacher of
patience and moderation; experience has not, as yet, tempered that
feverish and progressive youthfulness, so prone to speedy and often
drastic legislation. The heat of fever is often mistaken for the glow
of health. And as legislation is in the minds of the Western people
the panacea of all evils in society, will not the common tendency be to
carry on the work of reconstruction by parliament bills and
orders-in-council? Is there not here a great danger? "The danger of
premature commitment is much greater than that of more cautious policy,
proving a stumbling block in the way of future progress."
Moreover, the most vital factors of reconstruction in Canada will
affect more particularly the Prairie Provinces. The back-to-the-land
movement, demobilization, settlement of returned soldiers on the farm,
intensive immigration policy, extensive agricultural production are
indeed Western problems.
The choice of the Hon. J. A. Calder of Saskatchewan, as chairman of the
Reconstruction Committee in the Federal Cabinet; the prominent part
given to him and to the Hon. Mr. Meighen of Manitoba, in the formation
and discussion of plans at the recent meeting of the Premiers of the
Provinces; these are in themselves striking illustrations of our
contention in the matter.
Although the West will, in the period of reconstruction command the
attention of the country at large, there are, nevertheless, problems,
particularly those affecting our social and economic life, which will
weigh heavily on our Eastern Provinces. So reconstruction will be a
nation-wide work.
_The Duty of Catholics_
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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