John Stewart Carstairs

“ 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 passed 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. ”

“ A certain class of thoughtless people call us "flag-wavers" if we strive to give our young people a true conception of the value of national life, and of their duty to have a true love for their country and for their Empire. If a flag-waver means one who is proud of a noble ancestry, and determined to prove worthy of the race from which he sprung; one who knows that his forefathers gave a wider meaning to freedom, and who intends to perpetuate liberty and aid in giving it a still broader and higher value ”

“ 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. ”

“ The history of the past is valuable chiefly for the opportunities it gives to be stirred to deep, true enthusiasm for heroism, for honour, for patriotism, for love of freedom, for devotion to duty, and for sublime self-sacrifice for high ideals. Whatever else we may neglect in the training of the young, I trust we shall never fail to fill their hearts with profound reverence for the men and women of the past to whom they owe so much.
We should teach other lessons from the War of 1812. ”

“ 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 sunshine 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. ”

“ I am pleased to note the presence of so many chiefs and warriors of the Six Nations who are here assembled on the basis of one common citizenship with you, to join with our white brethren to pay respect and homage to the late hero, General Sir Isaac Brock, who offered his life as a sacrifice in the cause he so gallantly defended. He was the brave leader who led the white man and Indian in the defence of our country, our flag, and all that pertained to the maintenance of British institutions.
Our act to-day is a noble one. ”

“ We wish to develop in our children a spirit that will lead them to say to the people across our borderland not "Hands off Canada," but "Hands together to achieve for God and for humanity the highest and broadest and truest ideals that have been revealed to the Anglo-Saxon race."
We do not wish to make our children quarrelsome or offensive, but we do wish them to be patriotic Canadians, full of loyalty to their flag, their Empire, and their King. ”

“ We should fill each child's life with a splendid courage that can never be dismayed, by telling how a few determined settlers scattered widely over a new country successfully repelled invading armies coming from a country with a population twenty-fold larger. We should teach reverence not only for manhood but for womanhood by recounting the terrible hardships endured willingly by Canadian women generally, as well as by proudly relating the noble work done by individual women, of whom Laura Secord was so conspicuous an example. ”

“ 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 aggrandisement. They came solely because of their devotion to the British Crown and Constitution, and because they preferred to live in peace and poverty under a monarchical Government rather than in wealth and discord under republican institutions. ”

“ Upon the declaration of war, the House of Assembly was hastily convened in extra session on the 27th July, when General Brock, in the Speech from the Throne, made use of those ever-memorable words: "We are engaged in an awful and eventful contest. By unanimity and despatch in our councils and by vigour in our operations we will teach the enemy this lesson: that a country defended by free men, enthusiastically devoted to the cause of their King and Constitution, can never be conquered." ”

“ Toronto
It is a great satisfaction to me to be here to-day and to know that so many patriotic societies and organizations have clubbed together to commemorate so splendidly the one hundredth anniversary of the notable victory gained upon this field.
The great, virile nations of the world have always commemorated the brave deeds and victories of their fathers. The Romans did everything in their power to inspire their young men with love of country by relating stories of their glorious past. ”

“ Just a month before Salamanca—in fact, four days before the United States declared war—Napoleon had set out on his fatal expedition against Russia. Two days later he crossed the Niemen. More than a million Frenchmen were now in arms in Europe; and Britain was the only active enemy in the field.
What wonder then that Brock, as the civil and military head of the Government of Upper Canada, should view with extreme anxiety the situation in the Province? He had been in Canada for ten years. He knew that the Motherland could not furnish any more men. ”

“ 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 shores. 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 ”

“ There was another great demonstration and I was there on that occasion also. Could anything show more clearly the deep hold that General Brock had on the affection and memory of the Canadian people than these repeated gatherings? And now, after another fifty-two years, there is this splendid demonstration of respect and gratitude. I am proud that our people have done their duty to-day, and I hope that our action will inspire our children a hundred years hence to commemorate the great event. ”

“ The real celebration of the centenary of the battle and the fitting remembrance of the hero who gave up his life for Canada one hundred years ago, has already taken place in the six thousand schools by six hundred thousand scholars of this premier Province of Ontario. By this vast army of patriots in the making there has been celebrated within the past few days in song and story the splendid heroism of the immortal Brock, and the work done by him for our common country a century ago. ”

“ The peoples who had settled in Canada sprang from races which had always stood out strongly for national identity—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. ”

“ The work of the world is not done. Evolution to higher ideals goes ever on. Each succeeding generation has greater responsibilities and higher duties than the one that preceded it. The greatest lesson we can learn from the past is that we should prove true to the opportunities of our time; that we should with unselfish motive and undaunted hearts accept the responsibilities that come to us as partners in our magnificent Empire, and share in the achievement of greater triumphs for freedom and justice than have ever been recorded in the past. ”

“ You know that in Ontario manhood suffrage prevails in political elections, so that any foreigner after six months' residence can have every privilege of a full citizen, although he may have no higher interest in the country than as a place in which to earn his bread and butter, and whose ancestors have never shed a drop of blood for its retention by Britain, and who himself may never fight in its defence, but who may go back to fight his own country's battles, perhaps even against Britain. ”

“ 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. ”

“ The Six Nations have never had an historian of their own to record the brave deeds of valour of their warriors, and therefore get but scant justice in the historical records of this country; naturally the historians magnify the achievements of their own peoples, while I claim that more credit should be given my own people. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 [Pg 55] 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. ”

“ 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 ”

“ We have no wish to fill the hearts of the pupils in our schools with animosity towards the great nation whose fertile fields and happy homes we see beyond the great river that separates it from our own fair land. ”

“ We are not unthankful. We do not wish to be idle; but whenever we may be called upon to defend the honour and rights of the British Crown, we will most heartily strain every nerve, and do all the service in our power. ”

“ General Sheaffe, who succeeded General Brock upon the death of the latter, in his despatch announcing the victory which eventually crowned our arms, thus couples their names: " . . . . No officer was killed besides Major-General Brock, one of the most gallant and zealous officers in His Majesty's service, whose loss cannot be too much deplored, and Lieutenant-Colonel Macdonell, Provincial Aide-de-Camp, whose gallantry and merit rendered him worthy of his chief." ”

“ 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 God 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. ”

“ We as a people should never lose sight of the great importance that must attach to this occasion, and of the duty we owe to our children to do all we can to impress their minds with the precepts of loyalty to the king and crown, that should be ever steadfast and immovable. ”