1915-03-04ta

“In an address ringing with patriotism, John R. Robinson, editor of the Evening Telegram, of Toronto, addressed the Canadian Club last evening.”

Hamilton Times.  March 4, 1915.

In his stirring speech, John Robinson whipped up the patriotism of a large crowd who came out to hear him speak in the tea room of G. W. Robinson and company’s store on James street south.

Of the many speakers who had addressed the Hamilton Canadian Club, John Robinson’s forceful and eloquent speech titled England, Defender of Freedom was exceptionally memorable.

Robinson’s memories of being in England during the fateful night when Britain declared war, and his analysis of why Britain went to war were listened to with rapt attention:

“Mr. Robinson is a man of unique personality and has the courage of his convictions, one who has been aptly described as ‘a man who exhibits industry, clear-cut views, unflinching courage and the wisdom of a born journalist.’

“His auditors were enthralled as the beautiful word pictures of the speaker fell upon their ears and a most hearty vote of thanks was rendered him.”¹

¹ “Editor Spoke to Canadian Club : Stirring Patriotic Address by John R. Robinson”

Hamilton Spectator.   March 4, 1915.

Mr. Robinson’s speech used as his basis the experiences he had while in England at the outbreak of the war, the mobilization which took place in that country and how the British people felt with regard to the war.

In part, he said :

“ I was born to a heritage of Britain and Canada, and I will die with the same heritage unchanged. Our hearts are with the men on the field , on the ships, in the trenches in France and Belgium, and with the allies on the plains of Poland. Our hearts are with the men fighting for freedom founded on British liberty.

“ ‘ Canada has soldiers, many of whom will return heroes, while many will die on the fields of Belgium and France, and many in the hospitals on sick beds.

“ ‘Humanity above all flags! Freedom above all nations! We are friends to Britain because we are friends to mankind. WE have been taunted with the fact that Canada is no nation. Nationality does not evolve around money-changers, or those who buy and sell to get gain, or around those who ride around in autos with double chins.

“We realize the privileges of nationality, and England showed what people comprised the nation when she selected between honor and dishonor, between shame and glory.

“ ‘I missed a great deal, not being on Trafalgar Square on the night of the declaration of war against Germany, when England entered into the worst war in history, and most religious war that has ever been fought.

“ ‘ I was away in a little village in Sussex where the cows come home from pasture – just as the cows do in Beverly Township – a little place within sight of Battle Abbey, where William the Conqueror fought, and he will be the last William and the last man by any name that will ever invade England.

“ ‘The people have faith in the British navy, which was on the North Sea that night, as it is on the North Sea tonight – the greatest body of ships that has ever floated since Noah’s Ark grounded on Mount Ararat

“ ‘ Everywhere you could see the naval reservists and the men going to join Kitchener’s army; going away to the tune of mouth organs in their plain clothes.  This will always hold a place in my recollection of the war. These men were marching to war with the music from the mouth organ. They were marching to the holiest war that has ever been found in their plain clothes – the grandeur of the common people.

“ ‘I saw the country turned from a haven of peace to the hell of war. England is as much today the land of tortured hearts as Belgium is the land of tortured bodies. Woman are mourning for the dead and are anxious for the living.

“ ‘In this war, the women are proving themselves help mates of the men. England has shown herself once more a great people. They inherit the tradition of sacrifice and service. England has taught her people to be her servants, not, as with too many in Canada where we say how much can I get out of Canada; but how much can I serve England.

“ ‘The British hate war and love peace, but they went to war because they hated Germany, who hated them because they loved freedom. This is a fight for freedom.’ ” ²

² “Why Britain Went to War : John R. Robinson, of Toronto, to the Canadian Club.”

Hamilton Times.   March 4, 1915