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ings the Cher…r…rmans are doin' that keep us all from restin' quiet in our beds。 Let them come her…r…re to us if they will。 Let them come from all the countries of the ear…r…rth。 We will share wi' them what we haf； provided they will be behavin' themsel's and mindin' their peeziness。 But this man is sayin' somethin' more。 He is tellin' us how safe we are； an' that the great Republic south o' us will be guar…r…rdin' us frae our enemies。 I doubt it will be the fox guar…r…rdin' the chicken frae the weasel。 Now I'll ask this gentleman what it is that has guar…r…rded these shores for the past two hundred and fifty year…r…rs？ I will tell himthe Br…r…ritish Navy。 What has kept the peace of Europe once an' again？ The Br…r…ritish Navy。 Aye； what has protected America not once or twice frae her enemies？ The Br…r…ritish Navy； an' that same Br…r…ritish Navy is gude enough fer me。〃
The tumultuous din that followed the conclusion of the cantankerous little Highlander's speech was beyond all words； but before the chairman could get to his feet； through the uproar a voice strident with passion was demanding a hearing。 〃Mr。 Ernest Switzer has the floor；〃 said the chairman。
The young man's face was white and his voice shaking when he began。 〃Mr。 Chairman； Ladies and Gentlemen： I stand here to claim the fair play that you say is British for myself and for my race。 I am a Canadian citizen。 I was born in America； but my blood is German。 As a Canadian citizen； as an American by birth； as a German by blood； I have been insulted to…night； and I demand the right to reply to the man who has insulted me。 There are Canadians here to guard their own honour； the Americans can be trusted to protect themselves。 Germany is not here to refute the slanders uttered against her； but I claim the honour to speak for that great nation； for she is a great nation。 There is none greater。 There is none so great in the world to…day。〃 The young man's voice rang out with passionate conviction； his pale set face； his blue eyes flaming with rage proclaimed the intensity of his emotion。 Before his flaming passion the audience was subdued into a silence tense and profound。 〃What has Germany done for the world？ this man asks。 I would like to ask in reply where he has lived for the last twenty… five years； and if during those years he has read anything beyond his local newspaper？ What has Germany done for the world？ Germany has shown the way to the world； even to America； in every activity of life； in industrial organisation； in scientific inquiry in the laboratory and in the practical application of science to every…day life。 Where do your philosophers go for their training？ To German universities where they seek to understand the philosophy of the immortal Emanuel Kant。 Where in the world has social reform reached its highest achievement？ In Germany。 Where do you go for your models for municipal government？ To Germany。 Mention any department of human enterprise to…day and in that department Germany stands easily in the lead。 This man asks what has kept Europe at peace all these years； and suggests the British Navy； the one constant menace to the peace of Europe and to the freedom of the seas。 No； if you ask who has kept the peace of Europe I will tell you。 The German Kaiser； Wilhelm II。 To him and to the Empire of which he is the glorious head Europe owes its peace and the world its greatest blessings to…day。〃
When Switzer sat down a half a dozen men were on their feet demanding to be heard。 Above the din a quiet； but penetrating voice was distinguished。 〃Mr。 Romayne has the floor；〃 said the Reverend Mr。 Rhye； who himself was tingling with desire for utterance。 Mr。 Romayne's appearance and voice suggested the boredom of one who felt the whole thing to be rather a nuisance。
〃Ladies and Gentlemen；〃 he began； 〃I must apologise for venturing to speak at all； having so recently come to this country； though I am glad to say that I have been received with such cordial kindness that I do not feel myself a stranger。〃
〃You're all right； Jack；〃 cried a voice。 〃You're right at home。〃
〃I am at home；〃 said Jack； 〃and that is one thing that makes me able to speak。 Few of you can understand the feeling that comes to one who； travelling six thousand miles away from the heart of the Empire； finds himself still among his own folk and under the same old flag。 Nor can I express the immense satisfaction and pride that come to me when I find here in this new world a virile young nation offering a welcome to men of all nationalities； an equal opportunity to make home and fortune for themselves； and find also these various nationalities uniting in the one purpose of building solid and secure an outpost of the Empire to which we all belong。 I rise chiefly to say two things。 The first is that if Germany continues in her present mind she will be at war with our country within a very short time。 The young man who has just sat down assures us that Germany is a great country。 Let us at once frankly grant this fact； for indeed it is a fact。 Whether she is as wonderful or as great as she thinks herself to be may be doubted。 But it is of importance to know that the opinion stated here to… night is the opinion held by the whole body of the German people from the Kaiser to the lowest peasant in the Empire。 The universal conviction throughout that Empire is that not only is Germany the greatest nation on earth； but that it has a divine mission to confer her own peculiar quality of civilisation upon the other nations of Europe； and indeed upon the whole world。 We might not quarrel with Germany for cherishing this pleasing opinion in regard to herself； but when this opinion is wrought into a purpose to dominate the whole world in order that this mission might be accomplished the thing takes on a somewhat serious aspect。 Let me repeat； Germany is a great nation； marvellously organised in every department of her life； agricultural； manufacturing； educational； commercial。 But to what intent？ What is the purpose dominating this marvellous organisation？ The purpose； Ladies and Gentlemen； is war。 The supreme industry of the German nation is the manufacturing of a mighty war machine。 I challenge the gentleman who has just spoken to deny either of these statements； that Germany believes that she has a definite mission to lift up the other nations of Europe to her own high level and that to fulfil this mission it is necessary that she be in a position of control。〃 The speaker paused for a moment or two。 〃He cannot deny these because he knows they are true。 The second thing I wish to say is that the Kaiser means war and is waiting only for the favourable moment。 I believe it is correct to say that for many years after his accession to the throne he used his influence on the side of peace； but I have every reason to believe that for some years past he has cherished another purpose； the purpose of war。〃
At this point Switzer sprang to his feet and cried； 〃I challenge the truth of that statement。 Modern European history proves it to be false； and again and again the Kaiser has prevented war。 So much is this the case that the trustees of the only European fund that recognises distinguished service in the interests of peace bestowed upon the Kaiser the Nobel Prize。〃
〃That is quite true；〃 replied Mr。 Romayne。 〃But let me recall to this young man's mind a few facts。 In 1875 Bismarck was determined to make war upon France。 He was prevented by the united action of England and Russia。 Germany made the same attempt in '87 and '91。 In 1905 so definite was the threat of war that France avoided it only by dismissing her war minister； Delcasse。 Perhaps my young friend remembers the Casablanca incident in 1908 where again the Kaiser threatened France with war。 Indeed； for the last twenty years； even while he was doubtless anxious to maintain peace； he has been rattling his sword in his scabbard and threatening war against the various nations of Europe。 In most of these cases even when he wanted peace he bluffed with threats of war。 Then came the Agadir incident in 1911 when once more the Kaiser bluffed。 But Great Britain called his bluff that time and the great War Lord had to back down with great loss of prestige not only with his own people but with the whole of Europe。 It hurt the Kaiser to think that any nation in Europe should move in any direction without his consent。 Agadir taught him that he must quit bluffing or make up his mind to fight。〃
Again Switzer was upon his feet。 〃This is a slanderous falsehood；〃 he cried。 〃How does this man know？〃
〃I happened to be there；〃 was the quiet reply。
〃How do we know？〃 again cried Switzer。
〃Will you kindly repeat that remark？〃 said Mr。 Romayne quietly。
〃I believe this statement；〃 shouted Switzer； 〃to be a slanderous falsehood。〃
〃If you accuse me of falsehood；〃 said Romayne even more quietly； 〃that is a matter of which we shall not discuss here； but later。 But these statements that I have made are history。 All Germany knows； all Europe knows； that at Agadir the Kaiser backed down。 He was not ready to fight； and he lost prestige by it。 When Italy； one of the Triple Alliance； went to war against