Woodstock Collegiate Institute - Oracle Yearbook (Woodstock, Ontario Canada)

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LITERARY The Growth Of Canadian Autonomy Wi+h glowing hearfs we see fhee rise . Yes, we have seen Canada, fhis fair land of ours, rise from ifs furbulenf, insignificanf beginning fo affain nafionhood, and unfil fo- day, has won a place for herself in fhe world. All fhis could nof have been done wifh- ouf fhe iron will, fhe greaf deferminafion, and fhe marvelous foresighf of fhe fafhers of our Dominion. Names, such as Baldwin, Mac- Donald, Laurier, and Borden, woven fhrough- ouf fhe pages of our counfry's hisfory, serve fo convey fo us our wonderful herifage. The winning of responsible governmenf in I848 was fhe firsf landmark in Canada's growfh. Then in I859 she 'look a daring sfep in asserfing herself. She imposed a fariff of her own which burdened manufacfured goods from abroad, including Brifish, wifh heavier dufies. Canada said, in defence, fhaf respon- sible governmenf was meaningless if a colony could nof confrol ifs own economic life. As a resulf, if was recognized fhaf free frade for Brifain also involved freedom for fhe colonies fo seffle fheir own frade and fariff policies. As we all know, we celebrafe fhe firsf of July as our Dominion Day. Yes, back in I867, fhe Imperial Parliamenf passed fhe Brifish Norfh America Acf, which creafed our Dominion of Canada. Confederafion was a definife asserfion of Canada nof fo be ab- sorbed by her greaf neighbour fo fhe soufh. Confederafion also mainfained Canada as a nafion under fhe Brifish crown. However, fhe Brifish parliamenf sfill could pass laws for Canada and sfill complefely managed Canada's foreign affairs. Canadian acfs could sfill have been disallowed, and fhe Privy Council could declare laws unconsfifu- fional. Neverfheless, confederafion is a mile- sfone in fhe growfh of Canadian aufonomy. During fhe firsf age of fhe Dominion, Canada began fo assume some of fhe basic dufies of a nafion: fhaf of defending ifself when in I87I fhe lasf Brifish froops leff our soil. We were beginning fo grow up. Fourteen EDITOR - VALERIE McMUllEN There were problems fo be seffled wifh fhe Unifed Sfafes, buf only Brifain could seffle fhem. However when a Joinf High Commission mef in Washingfon in I87I, Sir John A. MacDonald was appoinfed a member of fhe Brifish delegafion. This was fhe firsf fime fhaf one of Canada's own represenfa- fives fook parf in an infernafional negofiafion and could speak, lliffle fhough if was,l specifically for Canada's inferesfs. Canada soon felf fhaf she should be allowed fo make frade freafies wifhouf Brifish inferference, and fo help achieve fhis, a Canadian High Commissioner fo Brifain was appoinfed in I879. Canada was sfill nof allowed fo fake diplomafic acfion independenf of Brifain, buf for pracfical purposes, she had gained fhe righf fo regulafe her -own frade regulafions wifh foreign counfries. Time wenf on, and as Brifain was drawn info fhe European rivalries af fhe furn of fhe cenfury, if became apparenf fhaf her diplo- macy mighf have serious consequences for Canada. She had no voice in Brifish foreign policy, and if Brifain should become involved in a war, whaf could Canada do? ln I899 Brifain did iusf fhafg she was fighfing in fhe Boer War in Soufh Africa, and so, Canada feeling her obligafion senf armed forces over- seas, where fhey were placed in no special Canadian group-iusf blended in wifh fhe Brifish forces. ln fhe years immediafely following fhe Boer War, Germany and Brifain enfered on a grim naval race. The cosf of a large Brifish fleef was enormous, and since fhe Royal Navy defended fhe whole empire, Brifain fhoughf fhaf fhe colonies should help finance if. Laurier hung back and said fhaf Canada would nof be commiffed where she could nof influence. His sfriking words were, lf you wanf our aid, call us fo your councils . ln fhe meanfime, fime was running ouf, and when on Augusf 4, I9l4, fhe cables and wire- less felegraphs flashed fhe message war across fhe Aflanfic, Canada for fhe firsf fime found herself flung info fhe midsf of world affairs. Brifain's declarafion had bound Canada, since she was a parf of fhe empire.