This modern flexible system of responsible government in Canada, so closely in touch with the people, in contrast with the irresponsible and rigid system in the United States, was neatly brought out by Lord Dufferin during his term as Governor-General of Canada, in a speech he delivered at Toronto, in 1874, after his visit to Chicago: "More than once," said he, "I was addressed with the playful suggestion that Canada should unite her fortunes with those of the great Republic. (Laughter.) To these invitations I invariably replied by acquainting them that in Canada we were essentially a democratic people--great laughter--that nothing would content us unless the popular will could exercise an immediate and complete control over the executive of the country--renewed laughter--that the ministers who conducted the government were but a committee of Parliament, which was in itself an emanation from the constituencies--loud applause--and that no Canadian would be able to breathe freely if he thought the persons administering the affairs of the country were removed beyond the supervision and contact of our legislative assemblies. (Cheers.)" It is, then, easily seen why Canadians and our brother Britons love their Union Jack. It is the signal of parliamentary government by British constitutional principles. It represents progress and modern ideas--the rule of the people, for the people, by the people, through their unbiased King; and, therefore, it is the evidence of their affectionate and loyal allegiance to that monarchy and system of government under whose benign sway the colonies have advanced, and Canada, above all other countries on the continent of America, is the land of the self-governed and the free. These are the liberties which the Union Jack signals in all parts of the British Empire to all the varied nations, with varied tongues, which have come beneath its sway. It is the consciousness of such liberty and the enjoyment of such equal rights that impelled Canada, Australia, New Zealand and all the colonies of the empire to send their sons to the field of contest in South Africa as a free-will offering to defend their fellow-men and to spread the blessings of Liberty and Freedom to the peoples of that continent. From this has come that most recent acknowledgment of its incomparable liberties that the peoples of South Africa, the Boers of Dutch and French descent, so recently warring with their British neighbours of Cape Colony and Natal, have now[170] united together and, meeting as brothers, have raised it as the union sign of their united liberty in the fourth[171] daughter Parliament of the Britains beyond the seas in our united empire. [170] Confederation Act, South Africa, 1909. [171] Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa. The world over it is the free-will Flag of Liberty. CHAPTER XXV. _THE UNION JACK AS A SINGLE FLAG._