A letter to the
editor of the Hamilton. It appeared in the December 5, 1914 edition of that
paper under the headline, “Loyalty” :
“To the Editor :
“If you can spare me
the space, I should like to make a protest which I’m sure will be supported by
every loyal Canadian in Hamilton.
“It was my pleasure
to be present at the splendid concert given by the 91st band at the Lyric
theatre on Sunday night. When the national anthem was played at the end of the
evening, it was too apparent that the majority of us do not even yet realize
the seriousness of the situation in Europe, and the significance of the
national anthem at a time like the present, as at least nine-tenths of the
audience rose before or during the singing of the same, and rushed for the
doors.
“Now, the question
is, do we as Canadians know what loyalty means, or have we been denuded of the
loyal units of our community in the soldiers who have gone, or who are
preparing to go, to the front?
“In singing the
national anthem, we are first of all actually uttering a prayer to the Ruler of
all Kings for the safety and prosperity of our King and the constitution for
which he stands, and, secondly, we are singing it as a token of respect to the
head of the constitution, of which we are justly proud.
“Our brother Britons
of the old land are giving their lives by the thousands to keep the ‘Hun from
our gate,’ as well as their own, and our own loyal Canadians (with whom I am
glad to say I have a very near relative) may soon be doing the same.
“Some of us are
married men, and up to the present consider our greatest responsibility to be
with our wives in Canada, though the necessity may arise when we should
consider it our duty to relinquish even this responsibility. Others of us who
are single have yet to realize what disgusting specimens of humanity we are to
stay at home while many are dying for us, and to show not even a recognition of
the symbolism of our empire for which they are fighting.
“If the Germans
should conquer, they will deserve the reward. Whatever their principles, and
however they may be deceived as a community by the military and constitutional
leaders, it has yet to be proven that they have deteriorated so far as to
prefer case and comfort to the great sacrifice of life itself for their principles.
“Now, let us wake up,
and while we at home are not fighting, show all honor and respect to those who
are, through ‘the King.’
“PATRIOT.”
.
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