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〃Yes； I knew quite well it would give us a better market for our grain here； and it would give us cheaper machinery too； butdo you really care to know why I switched？〃
〃Sure thing； I'd like awfully to hear if you don't mind。 We are not discussing politics； you understand。〃
〃No。 Well；〃 said Monteith； 〃two things made me change my party。 In the first place； to be quite frank； I was afraid of American domination。 We are a small people yet。 Their immense wealth would overwhelm our manufacturers and flood our markets with cheap stuff； and with trade dominance there would more easily go political dominance。 You remember Taft's speech？ That settled it for me。 That was one thing。 The other was the Navy question。 I didn't like Laurier's attitude。 I am a Canadian； born right here in Alberta； but I am an Imperialist。 I am keen about the Empire and that sort of thing。 I believe that our destiny is with the Empire and that with the Empire we shall attain to our best。 And since the Empire has protected us through all of our history； I believe the time has come when we should make our contribution to its defence。 We ought to have a fleet； and that fleet in time of war should automatically be merged with the Imperial Navy。 That's how I felt at the last election。 This autonomy stuff of Laurier's is all right； but it should not interfere with Imperial unity。〃
〃It's a funny thing；〃 replied Ross。 〃I take the opposite side on both these points。 I was born in the Old Country and like most Old Country people believe in Free Trade。 So I was keen to wipe out all barriers between the United States and ourselves in trade。 I believe in trading wherever you can get the best terms。 As for American domination； I have not the slightest fear in the world of the Yankees。 They might flood our markets at first； probably would； but they would certainly bring in capital。 We need capital badly； you know that。 And why should not factories be established on this side of the line with American money？ Pennsylvania does not hurt New York； nor Illinois Dakota。 Why then； with all trade barriers thrown down； should the United States hurt Canada？ And then on the other side； we get a market for everything we grow at our doors。 Reciprocity looked good to me。 As for imperilling our Imperial connectionsI do not mean to be offensive at allof course you see what your position amounts tothat our financial interests would swamp our loyalty； that our loyalty is a thing of dollars and cents。 My idea is that nothing in the world from the outside can ever break the bonds that hold Canada to the Empire； and after all； heart bonds are the strong bonds。 Then in regard to the Navy； I take the other view from you also。 I believe I am a better Canadian than you； although I am not Canadian born。 I think there's something awfully fine in Canada's splendid independence。 She wants to run her own ranch； and by George she will； and everything on it。 She is going to boss her own job and will allow no one else to butt in。 I agree with what you say about the Empire。 Canada ought to have a Navy and quick。 She ought to take her share of the burden of defence。 But I agree here with Laurier。 I believe her ships should be under her own control。 For after all only the Canadian Government has the right to speak the word that sends them out to war。 Of course； when once Canada hands them over to the Imperial Navy； they will fall into line and take their orders from the Admiral that commands the fleet。 Do you know I believe that Laurier is right in sticking out for autonomy。〃
〃I am awfully interested in what you say； and I don't believe we are so far apart。 It's a thousand pities they did not keep together in the Commons。 They could easily have worked it out。〃
〃Yes； it was a beastly shame；〃 replied Ross。
〃But isn't it rather queer；〃 said Monteith； 〃and isn't it significant； too？ Here I am； born in Canada； sticking out against reciprocity and anxious to guard our Imperial connection and ready to hand our Navy clean over to the Imperial authorities； and on the other hand； there you are； born in the Old Country； you don't appear to care a darn about Imperial connections。 You let that take care of itself； and you stick up for Canadian autonomy to the limit。〃
〃Well； for one thing；〃 replied Ross； 〃we ought to get together on the Navy business。 On the trade question we represent； of course； two schools of economics； but we ought not to mix up the flag with our freight。 This flag…flapping business makes me sick。〃
〃There you are again；〃 said Monteith。 〃Here I am； born right here in the West； and yet I believe in all the flag…flapping you can bring about and right here in this country too。 Why； you know how it is with these foreigners； Ruthenians； Russians； Germans； Poles。 Do you know that in large sections of this western country the foreign vote controls the election？ I believe we ought to take every means to teach them to love the flag and shout for it too。 Oh； I know you Old Country chaps。 You take the flag for granted； and despise this flag…raising business。 Let me tell you something。 I went across to Oregon a little while ago and saw something that opened my eyes。 In a little school in the ranching country in a settlement of mixed foreignersSwedes； Italians； Germans； Jews they had a great show they called 'saluting the flag。' Being Scotch you despise the whole thing as a lot of rotten slushy sentimentality； and a lot of Canadians agree with you。 But let me tell you how they got me。 I watched those kids with their foreign faces； foreign speechyou ought to hear them readGreat Scott； you'd have to guess at the language。 Then came this flag…saluting business。 A kid with Yiddish written all over his face was chosen to carry in the flag； attended by a bodyguard for the colours； and believe me they appeared as proud as Punch of the honour。 They placed the flag in position； sang a hymn； had a prayer； then every kid at a signal shot out his right hand toward the flag held aloft by the Yiddish colour bearer and pledged himself； heart； and soul； and body； to his flag and to his country。 The ceremony closed with the singing of the national hymn； mighty poor poetry and mighty hard to sing； but do you know listening to those kids and watching their foreign faces I found myself with tears in my eyes and swallowing like a darn fool。 Ever since that day I believe in flag…flapping。〃
〃Maybe you are right；〃 replied Ross。 〃You know we British folk are so fearfully afraid of showing our feelings。 We go along like graven images； the more really stirred up； the more graven we appear。 But suppose we move over to the platform where the speechifying is to be done。〃
In front of the school building a platform had been erected； and before the stage； preparations had been made for seating the spectators as far as the school benches and chairs from neighbours' houses would go。 The programme consisted of patriotic songs and choruses with contributions from the minstrel company。 The main events of the evening； however； were to be the addresses； the principal speech being by the local member for the Dominion Parliament； Mr。 J。 H。 Gilchrist； who was to be followed by a local orator； Mr。 Alvin P。 Jones； a former resident of the United States； but now an enthusiastic； energetic and most successful farmer and business man； possessing one of the best appointed ranches in Alberta。 The chairman was； of course； Reverend Evans Rhye。 The parson was a little Welshman； fat and fussy and fiery of temper； but his heart was warmly human； and in his ministry he manifested a religion of such simplicity and devotion； of such complete unselfishness as drew to him the loyal affection of the whole community。 Even such sturdy Presbyterians as McTavish； the Rosses； Angus Frazer and his mother； while holding tenaciously and without compromise to their own particular form of doctrine and worship； yielded Mr。 Rhye； in the absence of a church and minister of their own denomination； a support and esteem unsurpassed even among his own folk。 Their attitude was considered to be stated with sufficient clearness by Angus Frazer in McTavish's store one day。 〃I am not that sure about the doctrine； but he has the right kind of religion for me。〃 And McTavish's reply was characteristic： 〃Doctrine！ He has as gude as you can expec' frae thae Episcopawlian buddies。 But he's a Godly man and he aye pays his debts whatever；〃 which from McTavish was as high praise as could reasonably be expected。
The audience comprised the total population of Wolf Willow and its vicinity； as well as visitors from the country within a radius of ten or fifteen miles。
Mr。 J。 H。 Gilchrist； M。 P。； possessed the initial advantages of Scotch parentage and of early Scotch training； and besides these he was a farmer and knew the farmer's mind。 To these advantages he added those of a course of training in Toronto University in the departments of metaphysics and economics； and an additional advantage of five years' pedagogical experience。 He possessed； moreover； the gift of lucid and forceful speech。 With such equipment small wonder that he was in demand for just such occasions as a Dominion Day celebration and in just s