Malcolm Graeme Cameron

“ Even now Canada is regarded as much a part of the Empire as England, Ireland or Scotland, and she has become an important factor in the management and direction of concerns coextensive with Imperial Rule.
This is of vast moment, and a most desirable consummation. The colonial “soldiers of the Queen”, stained the soil of Africa with their blood for Britain's sake, but the sacrifice of life and treasure will not have been in vain, it with the cement of a brotherhood in death, it knits together irrevocably, the noble fabric of the British Empire. ”

“ The resort to the arbitrament of force has disclosed to the view a marked and striking illustration, not of splendid isolation, but on the contrary, such an example of magnificent cohesion and consolidation, a staggered Europe, and revealed the unparalleled majesty and power of the greatest Empire the world has ever seen. ”

“ Let us see to it that we “do our duty as a man is bound to do,” bury in the grave of oblivion the animosities of the past, respect the feelings and the honorable yearnings of others, deal kindly with the prejudices of all, sink beyond all hope of resurrection the differences between race and creed that sometimes tax to its utmost the statesman's skill to adjust, and from this course of action incalculable benefit will be the inevitable result. ”

“ If we of this assemblage have taken a part, no matter how humble, in this glorious work, it will bring to us a sensation of satisfaction and pride, and we shall have gratified a noble and natural ambition, and perchance be excited to still more exalted aspirations by the consciousness that we have performed our duty, “as a man is bound to do,” to the land in which our dearest interest are centered, and around whose name and fame we long so much to see encircled the garland of imperishable renown. ”

“ It may be, it doubtless is the fact, that difficulties will arise that must be met, and obstacles present themselves that must be surmounted, but what of that to a determined and courageous people? All obstructions to perfect peace and complete contentment will fade away before the enthusiastic pursuit of justice and of truth as darkness disappears in the effulgence of the rising sun. ”

“ Banish distrust and suspicion, and the way is open to a realization of our not unreasonable hope that Canada may shortly attain to that position among the nations of the earth for which her infinite resources, and the thrift and enterprise of her people amply qualify her, and continue to be the bright particular star of that mighty Empire, upon whose dominions the sun never sets. ”

“ What means it that Englishmen, Scotchmen, Irishmen, Australasians, Cape Colonists and Canadians, met the onset of a formidable foe together, that their blood flowed in the same stream, upon the same field, and that in the same deep pit their bodies where deposited, there to await the universal call that sooner or later will issue from the Omnipotent Ruler of the human race? ”

“ Our hearts were stirred with deepest pride, pride of our country, pride of its sons, (and how natural the feeling) , when the news flashed under the sea and over the wires that these young men, fresh from peaceful vocations, untutored in the arts of war, mere tyros in military accomplishments, lacking wholly that knowledge which only comes from practical experience, had taken a foremost place, the place of danger and of death with the most thoroughly trained "soldiers of the Queen." and with heroic valour had precipitated themselves upon the foe. ”

“ It suggests to the mind that we must love our country as the place of our birth or adoption, and where our more important duties are to be performed, as the play ground of our children, the land where our father's rest, and the tomb of the courageous and learned of our own blood and race departed. ”

“ We have been taught by the very highest authority, an authority no mortal dare question, because it is divine, that "greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Our fellow-countrymen exemplified in their death the highest, truest, noblest form of love. ”

“ Plastic fancy may assert her constructive power, and present to the eye of the mind an edifice for the future to be erected upon the foundation that devotion and self sacrifice have raised, but it is difficult, if not impossible, for the finite understanding to grasp the import of the occurrences of these eventful days, or form any conclusion of value as to the ultimate effect. ”

“ Our imaginations will be aroused, and all the passions which inspire and give vigor in the hour of dnager will awaken at her command, and be devoted to her serivce to the end, and until time for us shall have been annihilated. ”

“ That we must love it for the momentous achievements and excellence of which it has been the arena, for its moral and intellectual improvement, and for the share it has taken in the relief and delivery of the nations from difficulty, want or distress. ”

“ Our participation in this combat brings us closer to each other, increases our love for this fair Canadian land, and imparts a clearer and broader knowledge of the true meaning of patriotism, the noblest passion that stimulates a man in the character of a citizen. ”

“ The action of the Government of Britain in making reply to the ultimatum of the Republic of the Transvaal, which was couched in impudent and defiant language, indicating overweening conceit, and lamentable ignorance of palpable facts, by pointing the cannon's mouth towards Pretoria, its metropolis, requires no defence from us. ”