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 A CANADIAN NATIONAL SPIRIT. 
 
 A LECTURE 
 
 DKLIVERF.D BKFORR THB 
 
 YOUNG MEN'S ASSOCIATION 
 
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 t. lm(tttti*$ ihxujy %m\xmi 
 
 On December Sth, 1873, 
 
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 A. T. DRUMMOND 
 
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 !»¥»>¥ »»f>f>t t^T^T^TTT^^K 
 
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A CANADIAN NATIONAL SPIKIT. 
 
 A LECTURE 
 
 DKLITERED BEFOBB THS 
 
 YOUNG MEN'S ASSOCIATION 
 
 ov 
 
 I M^m'% 4W' %^ml 
 
 On December 8th, 1873, 
 
 VT 
 
 A. T. DRUMMOND 
 
A CANADIAN NATIONAL SPIEIT. 
 
 A Lecture delivered before the Young Men's Association of 
 St. Andrew's Church, Montreal, on December 8th, 1873, 
 6y A. T. Drummond. 
 
 This subject has an especial interest to us young men. 
 Though most of us, it may be, are now in subordinate places 
 in the various walks of life here, from among our ranks 
 must in time emanate many of the future leaders in the 
 politics, the professions, the literature and the commerce of 
 the Dominion, and all of us — each in his own sphere — will 
 exercise a greater or less influence in moulding the future of 
 our country. There are, no doubt, many who think that the 
 parts which they could play in their country's progress would 
 be so humble as to pass unnoticed. But it is not so. There 
 is no man who works earnestly and honourably, whatever his 
 position may be, who has not a useful place in the complex 
 machinery of the nation's advancement. 
 
 The position of Canada, socially, commercially and 
 politically, has undergone remarkable changes during the 
 past quarter of a century. 
 
 Education has, fostered by a good system, been placed 
 almost everywhere within the reach of the very poorest, and 
 now, as years pass on, is bearing its fruit in the higher status 
 of society, and in the more energetic, intelligent youth who 
 are yearly swelling the ranks of commeicial and professional 
 life. In our legislatures, the men of educated talent rise to posi- 
 tions of power, and less seldom do we find there the ignorant 
 demagogue, who so often has the reins of influence in a young, 
 rapidly-settling country. Between those who hold different 
 political views — particularly observable in the Press — there 
 is a more courteous bearing — not yet all that is desirable — 
 which a higher education and a greater refinement among the 
 people could alone have .Juced. 
 
Commerce has made vast strides ; our wealth as a people 
 has enormously increased ; and the comtuercial relations 
 which to-day exist between Canada on the one hand and 
 Great Britain and the United States, and more than one 
 foreign nation on the other, are of the most important 
 nature. Year by year, this commercial progress has told its 
 own tale. As the wealth and population have increased, the 
 imports from other countries have assumed corresponding 
 proportions, and the exports have, through the enterprise of 
 our merchants in diverting the Western trade to the St. 
 Lawrence route, and the development which has taken place 
 in Canada's own resources, taken gigantic strides. This pro- 
 gress, in connection with the extensive maritime interests of 
 the Dominion, has excited the attention of nations. The 
 country is now an extensive customer in, as well as contri- 
 butor to, the markets of the world. 
 
 Political changes have been even greater. Provinces 
 with separate governments, interests to a considerable extent 
 distinct, and in one instance with a people largely of a differ- 
 ent language, have thrown those interests into one common 
 lot, and now, with united energies and aims, form a Confeder- 
 ation, which, in the extent of the territory comprised under 
 its government is only exceeded by one power, and though 
 not yet comparatively large in the number of its population, is 
 already, in the broad views of its rulers and the enterprise of 
 its people, giving promise of a future nation. 
 
 To the effects of this political union upon us as a people, 
 and to the position in which it places each one of us as citi- 
 zens, I would wish to draw attention. 
 
 There were many in all of the Provinces who were bit- 
 terly opposed to Confederation. A strong difference of opin- 
 ion as to its probable advantages prevailed, and the anti-con- 
 federate party, it is well known, was wanting in neither 
 numbers nor influence. Six years have, however, since passed 
 by, and what to-day is the prevailing thought regarding the 
 results of Confederation ? I venture to assert that its greatest 
 opponents have been taken aback at these results. Four 
 Provinces comprised the original partnership, two others have 
 
since joined their destinies with it, and a fifth has l->een 
 created. If this Confederation had alone fostered and 
 cemented a great conunercial union, if it had al(jne taught 
 us to look to ourselves as great sources of supply and demand, 
 it would have accomplislied much. But it has been produc- 
 tive of other results, n(jl)ler, because removed above the mere 
 question of gain, and more personal to each one of us, because 
 of their relations to our social and moral well being. This 
 union has drawn together more closely tlie people of the dif- 
 ferent provinces into common views and aims, irrespective of 
 
 origm or creed ; a fraternal feeling 
 
 among 
 
 them has been 
 
 engendered ; there has lieen formed a social union, so to speak, 
 and what, from a political point of view, is of great import- 
 ance, a national sentiment has ST»rung up. Thrown more 
 upon their own resources now, an independent, self reliant 
 spirit is beginning to be developed among the people. They 
 now look more than formerly to themselves as a source of 
 energy and power (juite apart from the relations they possess 
 to the Mother Country. There is a growing consciousness in 
 their own ability as a people, and they have begun to realize 
 the vastness of tlie resources lying broadcast around them 
 awaiting development — whole provinces in extent untouched 
 by the tiller's plough, great water courses to be better utilized 
 as arteries from the interior of the Continent to the sea, 
 mines requiring judgment and energy to expose their wealth, 
 and a population with an intelligence to be made more general 
 by the spread of education, and with tastes to be cultivated 
 by the encouragement of literary enterprise. This is the spirit 
 which gradually developed in individual character, will, in 
 time, bear its marked impress collectively upon the people. 
 The infusion of a national spirit carries with it the develop- 
 ment of energy, and energy in each one of us means the 
 country's progress. It must be our aim to awaken and foster 
 this spirit, if we would rise above commercial, social, and 
 political lethargy. 
 
 It may be supposed that our evident progression in senti- 
 ment, as well as material well being, is significant of an early 
 independence. I do not think so, nor is there any large 
 
6 
 
 section of tho community which entertains that view. The 
 manhood of Canada, when it must watch over its own pro- 
 gress, and, unaichul, fi^dit its own way on tho arena of the 
 worhl, will be attained in its own good time. There are 
 responsibilities connected with it, for the full undertaking of 
 which we are, at present, unprepared. And with a loyalty 
 which glows in every Canadian heart, we are loath to dissever 
 connecti(m with the country to which we are bound by tho 
 closest ties of birth, affection and language. Are not there 
 the homes of our forefathers where they lived and died — there 
 the scenes of the glorious battles which they fought for a 
 liberty of thouglit and ii'tion, which we, in the new world, 
 inherit ? (rreat liritaiu is seen this Colony of hers when in 
 its infancy, has watclied over it as it grew up into youth, and 
 when it shall have attained the full vigor and maturity of 
 manhood, if there must be a separation, it is because the time 
 has fully come when the Colony must, unaided, carve out its 
 own future. With the vast natural resources which we have 
 of ocean and inland seas, of fields and forests and mines, and 
 with a population increasing year by year in numbers, in 
 enterprise and in intelligence, the time will come when the 
 relations of parent and offspring, however kindly they may 
 remain, will of necessity, with such a breadth of ocean 
 between them, be of a different type from thoso. of early years. 
 Maturity of years and self consciousness of ability, give a maa 
 an independence of spirit and a self reliance which prompt him 
 to cast aside the timidity of youth, and to cope with the world 
 himself. It is much the same with provinces like our own. 
 Similar phases are gone through until the people, self-depend- 
 ent and fearless, appear before the world as the new born 
 nation. When that period will have arrived in our case, it is 
 not our purpose to prophecy. We can merely keep in view 
 its possibility, fit ourselves for its responsibilities, and leave 
 its realization or not to the All-Disposer of events ; and whilst 
 cherishing feelings of warm attachment to Great Britain, we 
 ought well to bear in remembrance that Great Britain's pres- 
 tige is heightened by her Colony's progress, and that, as a 
 distinguished writer has fitly put it, the greatest tribute which 
 
Canada can pay to the position and power of the Mother 
 Country, is to become itself a great nation. 
 
 We are often taunted, and hitherto not without reason, 
 by our neighbours with a want of energy i\s a people, and 
 with an apathy in matters which affect our personal interests 
 and our country's progress. Journalists among them have 
 told us that there was ui us a want of a sense of nationality, 
 that tlie majority of us did not seem to know to whom we 
 belonged, and that the Provincial spirit, with its petty vani- 
 ties and still more petty prejudices, was the characteristic of 
 the people. These charges are to some extent too true. In 
 our Parliaments and Legislatures, local or often insignificant 
 questions frequently kindle the flames of strife, and even 
 when great (Questions affecting the nation's interests are 
 brought up, party feeling is too often allowed to sway the 
 judgment. The members of a party will vote in a solid 
 phalanx on a measure, seemingly irrespective of its merits, 
 simply because it is made by themselves a party measure, or 
 because the opposite side introduced it ; and how olten are 
 religious prejudices and sectional feeling allowed to intervene 
 when the development of national concerns is involved. This 
 should not be. There is sore need for a patriotic spirit among 
 us — a spirit that will rise above the considerations of party, 
 sectional antagonism, religion and race. 
 
 Are there not, also, too many among us who hesitate to 
 acknowledge Canadian mentp-l calibre and Canadian workman- 
 ship, not for any apparent want of merit, but simply because 
 they are Canadian ? — as if there was neither genius nor skill 
 here worth encouraging. And what, for example, are the 
 prizes we have hitherto offered to native literary effort ? Too 
 often an unpaid publisher's bill for piles of books lying still 
 unsold on his shelves, or a magazine with articles of consider- 
 able merit, but with a limited circulation, because the literary 
 public will frequently not look beyond the native birth of the 
 work. 
 
 I have met with and also heard of men in this country 
 of ours .who, if there be a meaning in words, seemed ashamed 
 of being Canadians. They are, fortunately, not numerous 
 
8 
 
 now ; but it is a pity that the country has to tolerate such 
 men. It would be interesting to know how much their 
 energy has contributed to its progress. Those who are ashamed 
 of their country are undeserving the protection of its laws. If 
 it is the land of their adoption, why came they here, or why 
 do they remain ? Ashamed of our nationality ! We have 
 reason to rejoice at the progress of the past few years, and 
 the next decade will afford greater reason. A nation's suc- 
 cess and its rank as a power have sometimes to do with the 
 pride which its less active people take in speaking of it as their 
 own, but among merchants, manufacturers and politicians, 
 down to the most humble mechanic, there will often be found 
 a better foundation for pride — a national sentiment, not, 
 perhaps, unmixed, in the case of a successful man, with a 
 natural feeling of satisfaction that he has himself contributed 
 in some degree to the nation's prosperity. And what are the 
 effects of this ? There are no two countries where there is 
 more energy displayed at home, and whose names are a 
 greater power on every continent, than Great Britain and the 
 United States. And why ? One reason certainly is that the 
 British merchant, whether at home or abroad, among his own 
 people or in the presence of foreigners, impersonates, in his 
 words and acts, the position and character of his nation ; and 
 the same may be said of the American, with, in some respects, 
 perhaps even greater force. Here in our midst we have seen 
 the dawn of this sense of nationality, which we trust will 
 soon become a full noontide in development. 
 
 As in every new country a very considerable part of the 
 population is foreign, and it is, perhaps, natural that the land 
 of each one's birth and early years should have some ties of 
 connection which it is hard to sever. Memories of early asso- 
 ciations are difl&cult to obliterate. There is a tendency, how- 
 ever, to carry this national feeling too far. In the land of 
 adoption no difference of race should for a moment be allowei 
 to sway the judgment in matters where the interests of the 
 adopted country are alone ^t stake. And yet do we not find 
 it, in this country and the United States, of almost daily oc- 
 currence ? In political contests are there not men elected to 
 
9 
 
 Parliament and Congress, not on the ground of high moral 
 character and executive ability, but for the sake, it would 
 seem, of the land of the candidate's birth ? I am strongly of 
 opinion that if a man permanently leaves his native land for 
 another country, it is from motives of choice or duty ; and I 
 further look upon it, from the time of his arrival, as a duty 
 which he owes to his adopted land, quite apart from his own 
 self interest, to lend his best energies in the development of 
 its resources. Each man will find his own particular sphere 
 of active work in this respect. Whether Irish, Scotch, or 
 English, French or German, it matters not here. In this 
 land these nationalities are all blended in the one word 
 " Canadian." We are not engaged in our busy occupations 
 here, whether of a public or personal nature, that we may 
 strengthen the hands and build up the destinies of Scotland, 
 or Ireland, or Q-ermany. Our country is Canada. We are 
 here because we like it, or because duty calls us ; and one of 
 the noblest ambitions that we could have, apart from plain 
 duty or interest, is to unite our energies in the one common aim 
 of building up, stone upon stone, a progressive country here. 
 We may have powerful neighbours, but we are not weak, and 
 they were not long since but as we are now. Their success in 
 the attainment of position and power must only infuse confid- 
 ence in us, and stimidate us to develope the energies which we 
 know are in us. Let us strive individually to attain this 
 end. I think that it is a noble reflection, open to each one of 
 us in after life when recurring to the events gone by, to feel 
 that our country, and particularly our immediate sphere of 
 active work, have been the better because that we have lived. 
 We are surroimded by circumstances which should make 
 us feel that there is a future before us — that on our prairies, in 
 our forests, our mines, and our fisheries, and in the genius 
 and vigor of our own people^ there are the foundations of a 
 material greatness requiring only to be built upon. The man 
 who constantly feels that he has ability in him lying ready at 
 his will, and has the proper spirit in him to develop that 
 ability, is likely to make his mark in the world. Those with 
 whom he is brought into contact are made to feel that he has 
 
10 
 
 that ability, and to respect him in consequence. When diffi- 
 culties present themselves, that self will and self consciousness 
 of power enable him to grapple with them. Difficulties, if 
 not superhuman, seem only made to be overcome, or to 
 tempt individual energy to surmount them. It is not 
 different with us as a colonial dependency. We are con- 
 scious of great natural resources ; we have a conviction 
 that a bright future, dependent, however, on our foresight and 
 energy, lies before us. Why should we not have in us the 
 spirit of a nation ? Why should we not set aside all differ- 
 ences of class, of creed, and of language, and all petty political 
 wranglings, to work in the common cause of realizing that 
 future ? Every association we have should promote tliis 
 spirit. In the New World nature is developed on a scale of 
 greatness. There are mighty rivers, rising in the interior of 
 the Continent hundreds of miles from the seaboard, vast lakes 
 that are rather inland seas, long mountain ranges, lofty peaks, 
 broad water falls, and towering trees. The mineral wealth is 
 even more than commensurate with these in variety and 
 extent. The American mind has also in some degree its 
 equivalent character, — in its maturity, whilst yet in youth, 
 in its comprehensive grasp of vast schemes, and in its energy 
 and determination. But we have other associations to foster 
 this spirit. Have we not the success of the Anglo-Saxon 
 wherever he has settled ? and have we not before us Great 
 Britain's direct encouragement as well as its example of energy, 
 sterling honor and success ? 
 
 We are accustomed to allude to patriotism as one of the 
 nobler traits of heroic character, and to revere the memories of 
 those whose lives have been made illustrious by zealous 
 service in their country's cause. But it does not require acts 
 which the world would call great to make each one a patriot. 
 The same opportunities are not, nor are the same means to 
 take advantage of opportunities, afforded to aU. Each, how- 
 ever, in his own path will find ample ways — some of them 
 small, and he may think insignificant — nevertheless ways in 
 which he may further his country's interests. Every deed 
 performed, every word spoken, and, I might go further and 
 
11 
 
 say, every thought which passes through man's busy brain — 
 for deeds and words are directly or indirectly but the expres- 
 sions of thoughts — bears its impress on the outer world for 
 good or evil, greater or less, according to its character, and to 
 surrounding circumstances. Cast a stone into the river : out- 
 wards spread from the common centre, constantly enlarging 
 circle after circle of ripples, which may approach and break 
 on the shore at your feet, but away beyond they roll outwards 
 until imperceptibly they are lost on the surface of the water, 
 the effect being prolonged or shortened as the ripples are 
 smaller or larger, the water rutfled or smooth. So it is with 
 the thoughts and words and acts of every day life. In many 
 instances their effects may not extend beyond the individual^ 
 though even there, in the case of thoughts, they may have 
 their wider influence through subsequent resulting thoughts 
 or acts. There is, however, no man who cannot, from his own 
 lifetime's experience, speak of the constant influence which 
 each individual, even the most humble, wields for good or 
 evil through what he says or does, and the increased means at 
 the present day for diffusing thought, have vastly extended 
 this influence. Let each one bear this in mind, that he has it 
 in this way in his power to accomplish much. It does not 
 require immediate position and power to do something for our 
 country's service, though upon those who have these, the re- 
 sponsibility that rests is great. The public spirit of a few can 
 accomplish great reforms, and what vast aims cannot be reached 
 if we all strive, hand in hand, in the good work ? Let no man 
 say that there is not a wide sphere in which he can direct his, 
 energies ; or give as a reason for apathy, that there is not 
 room for the attainment of every one's ambition. All men, it 
 is true, cannot reach to positions of influence, but it is equally 
 true that no man wiU attain such positions who will not work 
 hard and earnestly. But more than this. It is noteworthy 
 that the opportunities for work are on the constant increase. 
 Even more in a young progressive Dominion like ours, than 
 among the older nations, do we find it true, that as the world 
 rolls onward, and each country's resources are developed, and 
 science and skiU on every hand lend their new attainments to 
 
12 
 
 the learning of the past, so will the range for thought extend, 
 the scope for active energy be enlarged, and the opportunities 
 for each man's earnest effort be increased. 
 
 I have spoken of the dawn of a national spirit amongst 
 Canadians. The masses of the people, however, have appar- 
 ently not yet fully awakened to a sense of it. They are 
 seemingly still in a condition of lethargy, from which they 
 require to be aroused. But to effect this, is the work of time. 
 A national spirit is not like a fungus gi jwth, which appears 
 to-day in all its development, where yesterday there was 
 nothing but soil. It can, however, be infused more rapidly 
 among the masses, if we strive to excite it. The people can 
 be educated into it, and in the public spirit and enterprise of 
 our representatives, and the influence wielded by the press in 
 moulding public opinion, there are most effective media for 
 accomplishing this purpose. An example of energy evinced 
 by a nation's rulers in promoting measures for the country's 
 advancement, backed by a progressive tone in the press, will 
 excite strong emulation among the people. Our governments 
 appear now to be more alive to their responsibilities in this 
 matter. The old f ^y conservatism, and contracted ideas of 
 years ago, have in our parliaments given way to more liber- 
 alism, and to more enlarged views which make the future 
 hopeful. But, as I have already said, we young men have 
 an especial interest in this matter. From the preeent younger 
 ranks of life must, in time, be drawn much of the calibre 
 of the country. In youth we are more susceptible of new 
 and permanent impressions, and as incidents of that period 
 of life, wc have more energy to pave the way for success, 
 and more enthusiasm to make us love the work we are 
 engaged in. If this spirit is carried by each one of us into 
 every day life, it wiU bear its valued fruit in the course of 
 years in an apparently new generation of energetic, public 
 spirited citizens. This is the class of people which the 
 country needs on every farm and in every village and city. 
 
 It is still a source of regret, that at times there is so 
 much partisanship displayed, notably by the press. The lines 
 are very finely drawn between political parties at the present 
 
13 
 
 moment. Conservatives are anxious to be thought liberal, 
 and the Liberals we find marking out for themselves an even 
 more conservative policy than their opponents have adopted. 
 In the face of this, how often do our editors on both sides of 
 politics — especially as each election season comes around — 
 seem to vie with each other which shall pour out the more 
 unmerited abuse on parties and individuals who hardly differ 
 from them in political opinion, and take the most narrow- 
 minded view of every scheme which their opponents have 
 developed. This course is unworthy of the present days of 
 enlightenment and wide spread education, and is inconsistent 
 with the desire which should everywhere inspire the press — 
 of elevating the moral tone of the people, and inciting them 
 to high and noble resolves in regard to the future of the 
 Dominion. 
 
 And now when these old party lines in our legislatures 
 are practically swept away, when tliose who are at present in 
 power have come into office on the watchword of political 
 purity, which all should have, and when so many parts of the 
 country need much the infusion of more life and energy into 
 them, is there not strong ground for a new political creed in 
 which all parties could safely forget their differences, and 
 whose great principles would be unity of the confederation, a 
 higher moral status for society, and the cidtivation of a sense 
 of nationality among the people that would incite in them 
 noble aspirations regarding the intellectual and material future 
 of the Dominion. I confess to having a strong sympathy 
 with many of the principles of that proposed new party 
 organization, destined yet to be of influence in our midst, 
 which is being now fostered in western OntariQ. The ideas 
 developed thus far are perhaps crude, and some of them will 
 need emendation, but, they indicate generally the opinion of 
 a large class of the more thoughtful among the rising genera- 
 tion in the Dominion, and if the inspiring motives in adopting 
 these ideas are love to Canada and a desire for Canadian pro- 
 gress, it is not because we love the old land the less, but 
 because with increasing intelligence and enlarging sympathies, 
 we love the new the better. ^