Brock Centenary 1812-1912 Part 5

Abram Lewis (holding silver pipe of peace), Chief Alexander Hill, Chief A. G. Smith]

[Ill.u.s.tration: COLONEL GEORGE STERLING RYERSON. CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE.]

THE SPEECHES

The preliminaries over, the gathering was addressed by a number of well known gentlemen whose speeches follow:

COLONEL G. STERLING RYERSON

Chairman of the General Committee

This meeting to-day is held to commemorate the death of a brave and wise man who died in the defence of his country. It is not a pean of victory we sing but a requiem. We are not here to glorify war; nor is our object to exult over our brave but defeated adversary. Rather is it an occasion when Canadians should pause and look back over the past and give praise to G.o.d that in the days of stress and storm He raised up great, good and brave men who were willing and able to fight for their king and country in order that they might enjoy civil and religious liberty under the British flag, and that they might hand down to their posterity a fair and goodly heritage which they had won from the primeval forests by their labour and sacrifices. The United Empire Loyalists came to this country not as those who desired to better their condition in life, nor were they possessed by land hunger, nor by ideas of political and social aggrandis.e.m.e.nt. They came solely because of their devotion to the British Crown and Const.i.tution, and because they preferred to live in peace and poverty under a monarchical Government rather than in wealth and discord under republican inst.i.tutions. It was to these men that Brock appealed, nor did he appeal in vain when war was declared. It was on July 27th, 1812, that in reply to an address from the a.s.sembly of Upper Canada he said:

"Gentlemen: When invaded by an enemy whose avowed object is the entire conquest of the Province, the voice of loyalty as well as of interest calls aloud to every person in the sphere in which he is placed, to defend his country. Our militia have heard the voice and have obeyed it. They have evinced by the prompt.i.tude and loyalty of their conduct that they are worthy of the king whom they serve, and of the const.i.tution which they enjoy; and it affords me particular satisfaction, that while I address you as legislators, I speak to men who, in the day of danger, will be ready to a.s.sist not only with their counsel, but with arms."

He concluded as follows: "We are engaged in an awful and eventful contest. By unanimity and despatch in our councils, and by vigour in our operations, we may teach the enemy this lesson, that a country defended by free men, enthusiastically devoted to the cause of their king and const.i.tution, can never be conquered."

We know the response, and others who will follow me will speak of it in greater detail. With the Canadian poet we can say and sing:

"We boast not of the victory, But render homage, deep and just, To his and their immortal dust, Who proved so worthy of their trust-- No lofty pile nor sculptured bust Can herald their degree.

"No tongue need blazon forth their fame-- The cheers that stir the sacred hill Are but the promptings of the will That conquered then, that conquers still; And generations yet shall thrill At Brock's remembered name."

Nor must it be supposed that the United Empire Loyalists and their children were the only men who responded to Brock's call to arms. Our gallant French-Canadian compatriots were not a whit behind in their hearty response. Coming from a brave and adventurous race, they performed deeds of valour and endurance equal to the best in the defence of our country. The hardy Highlanders of Glengarry, too, were rallied to the flag by the Macdonells. Not the least active among these Scottish Roman Catholic Loyalists was the Rev. Alexander Macdonell, a priest who afterwards became the "Good Bishop," a brave and loyal man whose country's welfare was ever near to his heart. Another Macdonell, George, was second in command of the Glengarry Regiment, and still another, Colonel John Macdonell, was aide-de-camp to Brock in addition to being Attorney-General of the Province. He, alas, lost his life in his gallant efforts to second his chief at this battle which we commemorate to-day.

Scotsmen are ever brave and loyal, and we have in the Scottish population of the country an element on whom we can rely in time of danger.

Let us not forget that we owe not a little to our Indian allies in the War of 1812. Tec.u.mseh and Brant played great parts. Nor was Brock n.i.g.g.ardly in his praise. After the fall of Detroit he says in his despatch to the Governor-General:

"The conduct of the Indians, under Colonel Elliot, Captain McKee and other officers of the department, joined to that of the gallant and brave of their respective tribes, has since the commencement of the war been marked with acts of true heroism, and in nothing can they testify more strongly their love for their King, their great Father, than in following the dictates of honour and humanity by which they have hitherto been actuated."

Why do we single out Brock as a hero among so many who have rendered good service to the country? I think that it is because he was a man of loyalty, vigour, energy and administrative ability; because he was the embodiment of the patriotism and loyalty of the people; because he had within him the power to inspire others with the spirit of patriotism and self-sacrifice; and above and beyond all, it is due to his efforts, and to the spirit of resistance and Imperialism to which he gave form and substance, that Canada to-day is an integral part of the British Empire, and a daughter nation within that great galaxy of the nations known as the British Empire.

What does it mean to be a British citizen? What benefits accrue to us by having this status? Are not the paths of the sea open to us and to our commerce by the grace of the British navy? Can we not go to all parts of the world as individuals, knowing that the Union Jack protects us? Is it a small privilege to share in the brave deeds of the British army? Are we not proud of our common literature, and are not Shakespeare and Milton and Tennyson our very own? Not borrowed plumes we are wearing, but our own. And are not the benefits of British civil, religious and political liberty ours also? Is not British justice and administration of the law something to be proud of and to be thankful for? What should we do to maintain our status as a partner, a full partner, in the Imperial concern? Is it not our bounden duty to contribute directly to the support of the British navy? Are we to lag behind the other self-governing nations of the Empire in this essential duty? A thousand times No! A Government which will subscribe twenty-five millions of dollars for this purpose, and at once, can go to the polls in perfect confidence when their time comes to ask the people for their verdict.

Some good people seem to think that the time of universal peace is at hand. One has only to look at the state of affairs in Europe on this very day, to perceive how far we are removed from the millennium. In time of peace we must prepare for war; preparation for war is the best insurance policy against it. We wish to live at peace with all nations, but at all costs and at all hazards we must defend our sh.o.r.es. Universal military service is the duty of the Canadian people in the near future.

The people will be better for it morally and physically. It will surely come, for the policy of the future is the maintenance of the integrity of the British Empire. We love our country, we believe it has a great future; we must make it secure. What says a sweet singer of Canada:

"O strong hearts guarding the birthright of our glory, Worth your best blood this heritage ye guard: Those mighty streams resplendent with story, These iron coasts by rage of seas unjarred-- What fields of peace these bulwarks well secure: What vales of plenty these calm floods supply: Shall not our love this rough, sweet land make sure, Her bounds preserve inviolate, though we die: O strong hearts of the North Let flame your loyalty forth, And put the craven and the base to open shame Till earth shall know the Child of Nations by her Name."

MR. ANGUS CLAUDE MACDONELL, M.P.

Toronto

We have gathered here to-day as Canadians to commemorate an event which will be ever dear to us and our posterity. One hundred years ago Sir Isaac Brock, the hero of Upper Canada, died in battle upon this field in defence of his country and the flag. In the past we have learned and heard altogether too little of this truly great man, and of what he accomplished; it is not too much to say that he preserved Canada to the Empire and at the same time created a national sentiment in Canada which has ever grown and expanded to the present day. The national importance of the battle of Queenston Heights, following the capitulation of Detroit, cannot be over-estimated; national sentiment or a feeling of nationhood was even then manifesting itself in this young colony. The peoples who had settled in Canada sprang from races which had always stood out strongly for national ident.i.ty--the English glory in their historic past; the Scottish race, to which my forefathers belonged and which to some extent I represent, on this occasion, are noted for their love of country; and so with the other races which made up the United Empire Loyalist settlers of Upper Canada at the time of the War of 1812-14. Our national heart was created and stirred in this century-old war, and the heartbeats have ever become stronger down to this day, and we now look back through the mists of one hundred years to Sir Isaac Brock as the first true source of national sentiment which fertilized our country, and stamped it as British and Canadian forever.

Our object in coming here to-day, after we have enjoyed one hundred years of blessed peace with our neighbours to the south, is not to perpetuate national hostility, or even to cherish a mere military spirit; we hope and pray and fully believe that this peace will ever exist between us and our American brothers. Our object in coming here to-day is to honour the name and memory of one who was chiefly instrumental in bringing about that blessed peace, and in preserving our country to enjoy it; and in the name of peace we say that the ground upon which we stand to-day is consecrated and distinguished by the valour of our soldier hero, who gave up his life on this spot in the first great battle of the War of 1812 to purchase that peace which a grateful country has ever since enjoyed.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ANGUS CLAUDE MACDONELL, ESQ., K.C., M.P., ADDRESSING THE GATHERING.]

This monument under which we stand is a fit emblem of everlasting peace and at the same time it fittingly commemorates the glorious death of the man in memory of whom it was raised. We Canadians should ever be grateful to Divine Providence for having favoured us with such an able civil and military chief, because Brock was both the chief executive in our civil affairs and Commander-in-Chief of the forces. As Administrator of the Province of Upper Canada he was able and prudent; as Commander-in-Chief he was experienced and fearless. It remained, however, for the great chief Tec.u.mseh to read the true character of the man as man. When they first met, Tec.u.mseh turned to his fellow chiefs and allies, and, pointing to Brock, who stood by him, said, "This is a man!" The correctness of this opinion was borne out in both the life and death of Brock.

Our hero was ever dutiful. He always performed his duty and saw that others did likewise. The performance of duty was ever uppermost in his mind, and his ideals were always high, his aspirations n.o.ble. Permit me to quote here one of his first General Orders issued to the troops immediately upon his taking the field on the 4th of July, 1812:

"The Major-General calls the serious attention of every militiaman to the efforts making by the enemy to destroy and lay waste this flouris.h.i.+ng country; they must be sensible of the great stake they have to contend for and will, by their conduct, convince the enemy that they are not desirous of bowing their necks to a foreign yoke.

The Major-General is determined to devote his best energies to the defence of the country, and has no doubt that, supported by the zeal, activity and determination of the loyal inhabitants of this Province, he will successfully repel every hostile attack, and preserve to them inviolate all that they hold dear."

The result of the war proves how well Brock himself lived up to these sentiments.

Let us always remember that the War of 1812 was not of our making. On the 18th of June, 1812, President Madison declared war against Great Britain, with Canada as the point of attack. The "Right of Search," the power to search for contraband or for deserters on board of American s.h.i.+ps, was claimed by Britain, but was resisted by the United States.

Strange to say, this claim was abandoned by Great Britain the very day before war was declared by President Madison, yet the war was declared and went on. It will be readily seen that Canada had absolutely nothing to do with this war or its alleged cause, the "Right of Search"; and yet, in making this war on Canada, the United States placed itself on record as approving a forcible invasion of a neighbouring peaceful country and of involving it in all the horrors of war. At that time the United States had eight million people, Upper Canada had barely eighty thousand. At the very outset the Americans placed upon a war footing one hundred and seventy-five thousand men, whereas there were less than ten thousand men of all kinds capable of bearing arms in Upper Canada. These figures give us an idea of the very great disparity both in numbers and fighting strength between the two peoples so far as we in Upper Canada were concerned. During the two and a half years of the war there were no less than twelve separate and distinct invasions of Canada, and fifty-six military and naval engagements, the great majority of which were won by our forces. While Brock lived his genius and spirit guided and inspired the defence of the country, and after his death his n.o.ble example and the preparations he had made for war during his life encouraged and enabled the people to repel the invader.

Under the guise of strict discipline and the grim visage of a soldier and fighting man, Isaac Brock possessed a warm human heart; he was ever solicitous for the comfort and well-being of his people and especially of his militia soldiers, and on every occasion consistent with the safety of the Province he relaxed the rigours of war and would permit the militia to return to their homes and farms. This is evidenced by many of his Militia General Orders. An extract from Militia General Orders of 26th of August, 1812, immediately after the capture of Detroit, reads as follows:

"Major-General Brock has ever felt anxious to study the comforts and conveniences of the militia, but the conduct of the detachments which lately accompanied him to Detroit has if possible increased his anxiety on this subject. The present cessation of hostilities enables him to dispense with the services of a large proportion of them for a short period."

We very naturally ask ourselves who these troops were for whose welfare General Brock was always so solicitous. There were of course some British regular troops in Canada, noticeably the Forty-ninth, Brock's own regiment, but during the earlier stages of the war, and while Brock lived, the men of the Province, militia and yeomanry, had to be relied upon mainly; these chiefly were the men of the York, Glengarry, Norfolk and other militia regiments; every loyal man capable of bearing arms in the Province turned out to fight, or to help those who fought. The York and Glengarry militia served with great distinction, and I may perhaps be permitted to refer to the fact that forty-three gentlemen of my own name and family connection held commissions in the various regiments in that war. In connection with this I might further mention a somewhat curious incident. My own grandfather, Colonel Alexander Macdonell, was taken prisoner by the Americans at the Battle of Niagara, and was confined as a prisoner at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in the very same prison in which his own father, Captain Allan Macdonell, had been confined by the Revolutionary States as a prisoner of war during the Revolutionary War, 1776-83.

Now, happily, all is peace; we have enjoyed one hundred years of peace and we thank Divine Providence for it. We have had preserved to us by Brock and those who fought and fell with him a rich kingdom; we possess it in peace and happiness and great prosperity. This is an age of peace, and in this age and generation it is fit that we should advance all the works and arts of peace; a very great trust in this respect has been handed down to us and confided to our safe keeping. In these days of our prosperity we must protect and defend and develop this great country, this rich heritage which the heroism of our forefathers has preserved to us. We must not only conserve it, but we must better it and develop it, and make useful to man all these possessions which have been given us.

Our ideals and ambitions must always be high, and if we find ourselves faltering let us look upon this splendid monument and think of the hero in honour of whom it was raised; and let us at all times remember that now as in 1812 in unity we possess our strength; we must become one people if we are to be a great people, with one great common country. We have many Provinces but only one Canada.

It has been well said by one of Brock's biographers that "it remains for the youth of Canada to profoundly cherish the memory of Isaac Brock and to never lose an opportunity to follow the example set for them by his splendid deeds." It has also been truly said that "he fell ere he saw the star of his country rise," and, although the sky over this battlefield upon which his eyes closed forever one hundred years ago was cloudy and overcast, yet because he lived and died those who came after him enjoy the cloudless suns.h.i.+ne of peace and happiness.

Brock's family motto was "He who guards never sleeps." We know how faithfully he guarded and safeguarded his country in life, and let us pray that in death under this monument he sleeps well.

HON. DR. R. A. PYNE

Minister of Education, Ontario

I have a great deal of pleasure in being present here to-day on this historic spot, and am deeply sensible of the honour conferred upon me in asking me to represent the Government of Ontario on this occasion.

We are meeting here to-day to commemorate the deeds of a great man who pa.s.sed away in his effort to save this part of the world for the British Empire. We must remember that at the time of the battle this part of the world was a wilderness, and Sir Isaac Brock's wonderful capabilities enabled him to consolidate the people of this spa.r.s.ely settled country, not forgetting our dear old friends the Indians. With a handful of people, as compared with the country to the south of us, he made a gallant defence, and, as I said, retained this part of the world for the British Empire. He was not only a great soldier, but a diplomat and a statesman, and whatever his vision may have been one hundred years ago, everyone will agree with me that it was of such a character that he retained one of the best and finest parts of the world for Great Britain.

Let me say a word regarding the loyalty, the love of home and patriotism that existed at that time on this field of battle, and it might be asked, what are we doing to-day to create a sentiment of patriotism and loyalty to our country and flag? Let me contrast the efforts made in Canada to create a patriotic and national sentiment as compared with the country to the south of us. Just here let me tell you a short story regarding what occurred to myself in the city of Detroit some years ago, before I was a member of the Legislative a.s.sembly or had any thought of public life. I have always remembered it with the keenest appreciation of the great work in which the people to the south of us are engaged, inculcating in the youth of the country a loyal and patriotic sentiment.

I was in Detroit on a school _fete_ day when the children of each school were marshalled together for a march past the Detroit City Hall, where they had a large picture of the President surrounded by their national flag, the Stars and Stripes. As each school reached the entrance to the City Hall the scholars halted, saluted, and gave three cheers. To a little urchin on the street near me who was selling papers I said, "Why do they stop and cheer?" He replied, "They are cheering for the old flag which we call 'Old Glory,' and, sir, let me tell you that is the flag that was never licked!" I possibly did not agree with the accuracy of his history, but I realized the sentiment that had been created in that youngster's mind, a sentiment of loyalty and patriotism no doubt inculcated in his mind at school.

You may reasonably ask, "What are we doing to create a sentiment of loyalty and patriotism in this country?" and I may say that we have succeeded in placing the Union Jack, the flag of civilization, over every rural school in the Province of Ontario. I am also reminded of what took place the other day in the State of New Jersey, and as you are a reading people, this episode would not pa.s.s unnoticed by you--it appeared in all of the papers of last week. A boy attending a high school in the State of New Jersey was asked, as is their custom Monday morning, to salute the flag and to announce allegiance to the United States. The boy stated that he had no objection to salute the flag, but he could not give his allegiance to the United States as he was a British subject. Mr. President, I find that the State regulations of New Jersey call upon every scholar in their schools to salute the flag on each Monday morning and to declare their allegiance to the United States. This boy, being a British subject, could not conform to that part of the regulations, and was dismissed from the school. What would our people think of a regulation of that kind? I leave it for your meditation.

I hope and trust this meeting will be an inspiration that will extend all over this Dominion of Canada, and that some definite and proper way shall be found to commemorate the deeds of our ancestors and those great heroes whose efforts we to-day jubilate in this part of Canada, realizing the great heritage that has become ours through the agency of those great men who have pa.s.sed away. May Canada always remain a part--and by the Almighty's help I believe it will always remain a part--of the British Empire.

Mr. President, let me congratulate the Historical Societies, the volunteers and cadets here a.s.sembled for bringing about this wonderful meeting, which I trust will have an influence in making this an annual celebration for all time to come.