ariously, doctoring an expense sheet,
overcharging for any service rendered. "Good old country," they have
seemed to say, "if I do not rob you, some one else will!"

This easy conscience regarding the treasury of the country is early
shown in the attitude toward road-work, those few days' labor which
the municipality requires men to do as part payment of their taxes.
Who has not noticed the languorous ease of the lotus-eating
road-workers as they sit on their plough-handles and watch the slow
afternoon roll by?

Politics too long has been a mystical word which has brought visions
of a dark but fascinating realm of romantic intrigue, sharp deals,
good-natured tricks, and lucky strikes. The greatest asset a
politician can have is the ability to "put it over" and "get something
for us." The attitude of the average voter has been that of
expectancy. If he renders a public service, he expects to be
remunerated. His relation to his country has not been, "What can I
do?" but, "What can I get?" His hand has been outstretched palm
upward! Citizenship to us has not meant much; it has come too easy,
like money to the rich man's son! All things have been ours by
inheritance--free speech, freedom of religion, responsible government.
Somebody fought for these things, but it was a long time ago, and only
in a vague way are we grateful! These things become valuable only when
threatened.

There hangs on the wall, in one of the missions in the city of
Winnipeg, a picture of a street in one of the Polish villages. In it
the people are huddled together, cowering with fear. The priest,
holding aloft the sacred crucifix, stands in front of them, while down
the street come the galloping Cossacks with rifles and bayonets.
Polish men and women have cried bitter tears before that picture. They
knew what happened. They knew that the sacred sign of the crucifix did
not stay the fury of the Cossacks! These are the people, these Polish
people, who have been seen to kiss the soil of Canada in an ecstasy of
gladness when they set foot upon it, for it is to them the land of
liberty. Liberty of speech and of action, safety of life and of
property mean something to them; but we have always enjoyed these
things, and esteem them lightly.

The first blow between the eyes that our complacency received was
Belgium!--that heroic little country to whose people citizenship was
so much dearer than life or riches, or even the safety of their loved
ones, that