England, Canada and the Great WarDesjardins, L. G. (Louis Georges)
History
England, Canada and the Great War
Desjardins, L. G. (Louis Georges)
Great Britain -- Colonies -- Canada; Imperialism; World War, 1914-1918; World War, 1914-1918 -- Canada
"The French-Canadian people, so taught by words and examples,
have given in all our history the admirable spectacle of a
constant fidelity which circumstances more than once rendered
highly meritorious. Such are the true religious and national
traditions of our country. They have in our own days, as in the
past, found the exact expression suggested by the situation.
"On the other hand, it appears to us a well established fact,
and the most serious minds so proclaim everywhere, that the
British Empire, together with France, martyred Belgium and their
Allies are actually struggling for the defence of the peoples'
Rights and true Liberty. (Card. Begin.) Therefore, very dear
Brethren, it must be acknowledged that Canada, herself
threatened by the possibilities of a war fought with conditions
heretofore unknown, has acted both wisely and loyally in giving,
in a manner as generous as it was spontaneous, all the support
in her power to the mother-country, England.
"The Catholics, and especially those of French origin, have not
remained behind in this manifestation of true patriotism. If it
was well to make a comparison between the other groups, from the
standpoint of the free and generous participation of all to the
European war, it would be necessary, in the respective figures
obtainable, to take into account several elements which are
perhaps not sufficiently considered.
"But this is not the real question. It is sufficient to show and
to note for historical authenticity that, with the encouragement
and the blessings of their Pastors, and true to their constant
tradition, the Canadian Catholics, as a whole, have, in this
frightful conflict proved the perfect loyalty which is the sound
expression of true patriotism, and which is blessed by the
Church and by God.
"Thousands and thousands of our young men, for a large number of
them at the cost of particular and most painful sacrifices, and
in many cases, without being able to give to their race the
benefit of their chivalrous devotion, have gone, oversea, to
fight and die for the cause which was proved to them noble and
urgent.
"Moreover, all over the country, the courage of our soldiers was
echoed and answered by many active and important works
characterized by charitable solidarity, and this universal
co-operative and sympathetic movement must be supported by the
sentiments of faith and piety.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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