. The papers
run a half column, and that is all there is about it.

So why should Canada become excited over national defense? On the
south is a boundary without a fort, without a gun, guarded by a
powerful nation with a Monroe Doctrine challenging the world neither to
seize nor colonize in the Western Hemisphere. On the east for three
thousand miles washes the Atlantic, on the west for five thousand miles
the Pacific--what has Canada to fear? "Why," asked the Conservatives,
"should we support the Laurier policy of building a tin-pot navy?"
"Why," retorted the Liberals when Laurier went out and Borden went in,
"should we support the Borden Navy Bill to contribute good Canadian
cash to a British navy?"

Besides, in the back of Canada's collective head--as it were--in a sort
of unspoken consciousness was the almost religious conviction that the
Dominion had contributed her share toward Imperial defense in her
transportation system. Had she not granted fifty-five million acres of
land for the different transcontinentals and spent far over a billion
in loans and subsidies and guarantees? Value that land at ten dollars
an acre. That was tantamount to an expenditure of two hundred dollars
per capita for a transportation system of use to the empire in Imperial
defense. Seventy trainloads of Hindu troops were rushed across Canada
in cars with drawn blinds and transported to Europe before the enemy
knew such a movement was contemplated. Should Turkey ever cut off
Suez, Canada and Panama would be England's route to India. In
addition, Canada considers herself the granary of the empire. Should
Suez ever cut off the path to India and Australia, what colony could
feed England but Canada?

You will note that Canada's thought concerned the empire, not herself.
The reason for the navy bills proposed by both parties has been
Imperial defense. That Canada might some day be compelled to fight for
her own existence--and fight to the death for it--never dawned on her
legislators; and their unconsciousness of national peril is the
profoundest testimony to the pacific intentions of the United States
that could be given. It seems almost treason at this era of world war
to call Canada's attention to the fact that the greatest danger is not
to Imperial defense. It is to Canada's national defense. Uncle Sam
has been Canada's big brother, but what if when the danger came, his
arms were tied in a conflict of his own? Whatever com