Toronto and her Place in the British Empire

Mr. President and Gentlemen,--

I must confess that it is with mixed feelings that I get up just at the present moment; mixed, because so far as I am concerned, that is to say, so far as my anticipation of my own feelings is concerned, it will be nothing but pure enjoyment; mingled with that, however, is one of some concern with regard to yourselves. I should have hoped to escape that feeling today but for the fact of the somewhat untimely, but very generous sympathy of a friend of mine who had seen the card which suggested that those who had heard Mr. Grier before would like to hear him again. He said to me "That is so absolutely untrue that I refuse to go unless you tell the story of the barber," and so I have got to tell the story of the barber. It is extremely short, and it is very ancient, and its only charm lies, in my friend's view at all events, in its extraordinary application to the case of those who have heard me before. It is the story of the barber who being approached by a client with the request, "Have you the razor which you shaved me with last week," replied, "Oh yes, I have kept it carefully for you," whereat the customer replies, "Thanks; I. will take chloroform."

I want within the compass of a brief half hour, for I understand that is the limit of my time, to accomplish something, and I must confess it strikes me, in view of the largeness of my subject, that the task is somewhat difficult. I want not to forget some one or two points, and therefore, though I have not prepared any sentences for you, I have jotted down some headings, and some of them at least, I hope, with my treacherous memory, not to forget.

Now the first thing that occurs to me is this, that it is a very good thing for me that I am speaking to you today, because if it had been postponed I should never have spoken to you upon this subject. I am today somewhat daring by reason of the fact I have only lately arrived back in Toronto. Some years ago, and this I point out because it seems to me to suggest that perhaps I have somewhat of a qualification,-some years ago I lived in a larger city, namely, London, England, for several years; I lived in Toronto for a few years; and for a few recent years, ten years in all, I have lived outside of this city; therefore it occurs to me that I have had an exceptional opportunity to consider at least what are likely to be the prospects of such a city as Toronto. Hence it is that I have had the daring today to say that' I will speak to you upon the subject of "Toronto and her place in the British Empire."

Now, I am an optimist, not a pessimist; a pessimist as you will remember, being one who, being confronted with the choice of two evils takes both. I take neither, but I am an optimist. I am an optimist in respect of both branches of the subject, namely, in respect of Toronto and also and of course in respect of the Empire.

Let me say at once I speak thus, not because I have thought out the subject fully, not because I consider myself fitted to do so, but merely as one playing the part which in electrical development is played by the exciter machinery, a small and obscure part of the plant rarely visited by mankind outside of the employees themselves, and whose only mission in life is to set the big wheels going. I am today the little wheel, you are the big.

The proposition which I suggest' for your consideration is this/that Toronto, outside of the British Isles themselves, is or should be hereafter the most considerable city in the whole of the British Empire. /The proposition is a large one and I do not expect you. to assent to it at once. On returning to Toronto I said to myself: "What is this town or city to which I return? What is its present, what is its future?" And to myself I made this (answer: "In respect of its future it is bound to be, if it does its duty, the most noteworthy, the most considerable, city in the whole of the British Empire outside of the British Isles."

Where will the metropolis of the Overseas Dominions be found? In which part of the world? Obviously there axe but three portions which come under consideration, Australia, South Africa, Canada. India from this standpoint I think need not be regarded.

Let us look at the matter geographically. Of late years obviously this continent has become of immense importance in the eyes of the world. I remember when I was living in England the point of view of the United States was considered a negligible factor. Now no man of sense suggests that the point of view of the United States is negligible. It is considered of great importance; it is discussed; the chancelleries of Europe debate it amongst themselves; and whether or not the assistance of the United States, whether tacit or active, will be given to any country is a matter of importance. Of late this whole continent, in respect of the eyes of the world, has assumed an importance which- a few years ago it had not. When you come to Canada, in comparison with the other outlying parts of the British Empire, how stands it? The others are thousands of miles away, whilst Canada forms part of the Continent of America, and a very considerable part at that. So, sir, so far as the first point goes, namely, that nearness to the North American Continent is a significant thing, Canada stands pre-eminent in comparison with the other outlying parts of the British Empire.

The other geographical question with regard to Canada is the comparative nearness or distance from the British Isles themselves, and there how stands it? I have noted down, (but have not the time to give it to you now), the distances of the main towns in Australia and in South Africa, but roughly speaking the distance from London to Melbourne or Sydney may be placed at 12,000 miles, and the distance from London to Capetown or Pretoria at 6,000 miles, whereas the distance from London to the Dominion of Canada may be not unfairly placed at only 3,000 miles- So that so far as geographical position is concerned, in respect of both of these two main considerations, it is obvious that the most noteworthy city of the outlying portions of the British Empire is to be found in the Dominion of Canada.

There are other considerations that I need not enlarge upon, such as the extraordinary strategical, position which Canada occupies, lying as it does between the Atlantic and Pacific. Those are makeweights to the original argument. The argument is strong. So far as geography is concerned there appears to me to be no question whatever, and therefore with your permission I shall pass from my main point that wherever the most noteworthy city is, to be found it is certainly to be found within the Dominion of Canada.

Now, sir, we come to consider what city within the Dominion. Naturally the inquiry is a little more delicate, and perhaps the answer is not quite so certain, but I think the suggestions which I am going to make are fairly reasonable. Where in the Dominion of Canada is the most important place to be? I think we may look at the history of the United States with regard to this. Let me say I am not pointing to population as being the only, if indeed, the main thing. Where is this city to be? The history of the United States suggests that the most important place will not be right in the middle of the continent. To take a concrete instance,. I think anyone who contemplates the relative position in the eyes of the world of say Boston and Chicago today, will concur in that. Chicago beyond question has long outstripped the other in population, but who would suggest that, in respect of authority in the eyes of the world, in respect of dominance of voice so far as the ears of the world are concerned, Chicago has any place beside such a city as Boston? I think it will not be in the centre. I do not believe it will be on the, Pacific Coast. I am greatly charmed with British Columbia. I have delighted in it. I was never perhaps happier than there, but for all that I do not think that its position is such as to suggest that there will be found the future capital. Let us come to the other side. Looking at all the conditions of the Maritime Provinces my view is that though they are very fine and splendid in their way, and though they are on the Atlantic seaboard, it is not they who will furnish the most noteworthy city; and that our choice ultimately must lie between the City of Montreal in the Province of Quebec; and the City of Toronto in the Province of Ontario.

Now, dealing with those two, what do we find? Let me say at the outset that I am one who is quite charmed with the City of Montreal; I have lived there; I have enough cosmopolitanism in me, though an ardent Britisher, to appreciate everything of delight and gaiety which the French nation has given. But with all that, I do not think when it comes to the naming of the most important City in the British Empire that the die is going to be cast in favour of the City of Montreald It is going to be in favour of the purely British City of Toronto. I admit that the City of Montreal is larger in population, and, so far as my judgment goes, it is perhaps likely or, at all events, quite possible that she will' always transcend us in population, though I think that is doubtful; but even if it were so, that is not the thing which J am pointing out today. I am not suggesting that this city will perforce have the largest population within the Overseas parts of the Empire. I am suggesting that in respect of noteworthiness, in respect of dominance of note, in respect of a voice which has to be listened to by the other parts of the Empire, Toronto should be the chief of, all. It strikes me that here we have an advantage in respect of solidarity of race which, if taken hold of, will enable us to hold the chiefest place within the Dominion of Canada and the Overseas Dominions of the whole British Empire.

Sir, dare anyone suggest that it is not of significance to hold such a place? Consider only two things if you will. In respect of the habitable portions of the globe we have an Empire which occupies 24 percent or nearly one quarter; and in respect of population contains 26 percent or over one quarter of the whole population of the globe. The figures are so immense, the conception is so transcendent, that we really fail to realise it. The very largeness of the matter puts it without our comprehension, and the very best that either you or I can ever hope to attain to is a straining after the conception of the position which our Empire holds within the boundaries of the world. I should like within this half hour to impress on your minds some one point which would leave a lasting impression, so that when you leave this room today-a murky day, not an optimistic day, no particular accident of nature to cheer us-it might be with pride greater than ever in our lot. I would that we might all go forth front this room saying to ourselves, Never before have we realised so clearly the position which the British Empire occupies, and the position which the City of Toronto may occupy in the British Empire.

What are we to do in the City of Toronto? The first thing it seems to me is this, we must get some sort of conception of what we are going to become. If you have assented to my proposition entirely or only in part, my argument now is just the same, the burden upon us is just the same, the only difference is in degree. Are we to consider it as merely a provincial point, constantly enlarging itself from year to year, or conceive it, as I think we should, as a point which should become not only a notable city but a n able metropolis in the history of the world itself. That is my conception of Toronto, and having that conception it seems to me that in every consideration of the city, in everything which comes before us, we have got to view it from that standpoint.

Are we to debate some suggestion of an addition to our territory from a narrow standpoint? And let me interrupt myself, just to say that I am not speaking from any real estate standpoint, that I own nothing whatever in the City of Toronto except a too heavily mortgaged house, and that so far as my own pocket is concerned I don't expect to either profit or be hurt to the extent of one cent by anything which I say to you today. 'I am saying, sir, with reference to our notion of Toronto we should bear in mind these large views because, if we do so, we shall be able, I think, to take a far more fitting and appropriate attitude towards the various questions which present themselves. Accordingly I suggest to you that you view Toronto as a coming metropolis, not in the eyes of Canadians only, not in the eyes of the inhabitants of this continent only, but in the eyes of the inhabitants of the whole civilized world.

Shall we not have spaciousness? Sometimes I feel very intolerant as to the suggestions which are made with regard to this continent. I recall England, and the way in which she is advancing in certain particulars; and then I hear it suggested that out here all is progress, and over there all is simply cut and dried conservatism. I say what has become of my eyes and ears and mind? Do you suppose that if this continent were peopled, wholly by old country people that they would conceive that the ideal thing in the erection of buildings in cities was to have sky scrapers because the first great city on this continent had to build sky scrapers on account of the fact that it had no room? Can you imagine anything more illogical? The City of New York had no room on its own tongue of land, absolutely no opportunity to extend in any way on the level, therefore it built upwards. In other cities on this continent, the argument apparently is, "We have plenty of room, spaciousness is desirable on our own account, there is no earthly reason for our running up to heaven, therefore let us build sky scrapers." There are particular instances in which you have to have such things, and I admit at once the capacity of some of the architects who have dealt with the difficult problem, but what I am suggesting is this, that it is a condition which is not ideal, and is simply necessitated by exigencies which do not exist in the City of Toronto. I am hoping that we shall have a very fine open-air city. I am hoping that we shall have a city in which hygiene will play a prominent part, in which it will be recognized that fresh air is a God-given thing--and should be sought for constantly. I am making no criticism of anybody or anything, but I am suggesting what in the future should be our aim. If we feel proud to proclaim that we have the highest building in the British Empire, so far as I am concerned, please erect at once the highest building in the British Empire, the lowest building in the British Empire, the ugliest building in the British Empire; and then, if you please, proceed to build the most beautiful building in the British Empire. Whether we build high or low depends upon the exigencies of the occasion, and it may be fitting at times to have a high building or a low building, but in the parts which are not circumscribed, in the portions of the city yet unencumbered by buildings, we should have regard to the fact that it is a blessed thing to have the air and sunlight of heaven come down into the streets, and that it is not ideal to have these two things shut out by uprearing buildings.

I have it in mind to speak of the parks. I wish to express the great pleasure I felt when, as a citizen of Niagara Falls, I heard of a splendid Humber Valley Park:, I devoutly hope that there will not, by any mischance, be any failure in that respect; indeed, my hope is that it will not end there, but that hereafter we may be able to get, either from those who have this matter in hand or from others, other park lands so that eventually there may be a beautiful belt of park lands stretching around the city.)

The city should be well lighted. I am sure there are many here who will agree with me in that, and I say that, by whatever agency, whether municipal or corporate, my hope is that the City of Toronto will be absolutely the very best lighted city on the whole of the habitable globe; and that not only for reasons of convenience, but because all of those who are interested in the moral welfare of cities know that you cannot have, (if you except fresh air, and perhaps not even that), any finer agency towards the driving out of things evil than splendid and constant light during the, otherwise, hours of darkness.

f We should have greater unity in civic action/ On behalf of those who work for the city and perhaps sometimes make mistakes let me say quite frankly

admit that the position of those of us who stand aside and criticise is not a logical position. Those of us who are content to criticise civic action should be content to play our part, if part we can play, for Toronto in parliament. I have been a somewhat frequent visitor both in the Legislature and also at Ottawa and I have not often enough, been proud and gratified at the feeling "there Toronto speaks." I do suggest that we have arrived now at a size when surely we contain within our borders men whom it would be appropriate and right to ask to represent us in our parliaments. Too often the man seeks the office and the trouble arises because the one whom you would seek for the office is not content to take it, because men have not been kind or fair enough to their opponents in civic and parliamentary life. I notice a slight change from what used to be the case some years ago, some small amelioration today not only so far as the utterances of legislators are concerned, but also in the attitude of the press. I think conditions have improved and I wish that Mr. Borden had been able to keep his engagement to be here that I might say of him in his presence as I do in his absence that he is one of the most outstanding figures on either side of the House who have stood for decency of utterance in respect of opponents; and that is not a small thing. The fact of the matter is on this continent at large, that men of fine sensibilities, men of great parts, have stood aghast at the notion of entering into politics, not by reason of any sense of unfitness for the responsible duties which they might be called upon to perform, but because they have been unwilling, being possessors of refinement and decency and sensibility and delicacy, to subject themselves to the treatment which they have seen meted out to others.

There are a vast number of things to be thought about for this city, but I can't go through them all. I wish I could. There are such things as extending the influence of our splendid University. I should like to see the impress of the University upon the whole city so that it might be known as the University City. I should like to see this city realise not only, passively but actively the part it should play with respect to the defence of the country. I voice no partisan view, when I say that no Canadian with any sort or decency is absolutely content to have benefits showered upon him by the mother country, unless in return he gives a corresponding benefit. Take such a thing as the soldiery of our people. What is the trouble? To my mind it is merely that heretofore it has seemed something extraneous to our civic life. My notion is, so far from any individual revolt on the part of any of us, should there be such a thing imposed upon us as training every year, we should welcome it and thank the government of the country for giving us the opportunity of doing these two fine things at once, namely, making ourselves better physically and therefore better mentally, and also fitting ourselves to say that, come who will, this country is absolutely safe, not by reason of any extraordinary prowess of arms but by reason of the mere circumstance that just so many inhabitants as there are on the land are there defenders of the land.

There is the vast subject of the assimilation of the races which Canada as a whole has to deal with, but which of course has mainly to be dealt with by the large cities. I am hopeful myself that the fine things which we in our youth and upwards have learned will be so potent with us we shall be enabled to assimilate to our splendid British institutions the people from any part of the world, no matter how errant they originally may have been from the course which we conceive to be that of fine citizenship.

Let me point out some of the physical changes which in the past have taken place, even in my knowledge of this city. I can remember the time when the transportation within its borders was perfectly humorous, and delightful, and somewhat picturesque. You remember the time when we had horses drawing cars of various lengths, some of full length, some familiarly called "bobtail," I know that at times I have covered both the beginning and the end of the journey in the same day, so great was the speed. Oh, yes, you must not be entirely cynical with reference to the speed in those days: it was very reasonable. But those things have gone. And the rolling stock used to have such charming abnormalities at certain times of the year. I can remember, in the northern part of Yonge Street, when at certain times there was a Noah's Ark painted very charmingly, on wheels when the roads allowed, and when the roads didn't allow, on runners; and inside a narrow aisle I should think about 3,000 feet long, from my recollection, the floor covered with straw, and the eccentricity of motion such that the only thing that came to one's mind was, "Into whose lap shall I next fall?" I can recall a little frame barber shop, where stands now the Manning Arcade or some other imposing structure, kept by one Sager, where Mr. Aylesworth (now Sir Allan) and myself and others used to undergo tonsorial operations; and that same establishment, within my experience, was afterwards doing business on the site of that magnificent tall building which is now being erected for the Canadian Pacific Railway. So that you see we really have had improvement in many ways in this city.

I find my time is up. I want to say that though I have spoken of things material, there is absolutely nothing in my judgment which for importance compares with the question of the make-up of the men and women of this city and of this country. It is no pretence on my part. In my obscure way for years I have been voicing it. It is a delight to me to hear voices considered of far greater importance now saying these things. A city of 100,000 great men is worth more than a city of a million insignificant men, even if the city of 100,000 has not anything like the wealth of the city of the million. After all, in the last analysis, character lies at the root of the whole matter. " No city is great, no empire is great, unless the people of the city and of they empire are great. That is the reason why we, of the British Empire, are proud. It is not merely because, in fact I think it is very, little because, it is large or magnificent; it is because we earnestly and sincerely are in sympathy with the utterance of Lord Milner who said, that when the British Empire was referred to, ha felt inclined not to cry "hurrah" but to go around the corner and pray; or, to put it in another form, we believe it is an Empire which stands absolutely for righteousness and justice and liberty. These are the things which make us proud and these are the things that make us expand. It is true we have our Westminster Abbey, and might have many more scattered throughout the British Empire, in which might repose thousands who have done their duty day by day inconspicuously or conspicuously as fortune dictated, but over and beyond alt question of fame our general notion is this, that the empire to be great must be an empire which exhibits the qualities of liberty and justice. I say to my friends is the United States, when I speak there, that there is no occasion for us to have a stone Statue of Liberty because we have within the British Empire some 50,000,000 statues, monuments of liberty, in living flesh and blood.

Sir, Toronto means the place of meeting. I would have the City of Toronto a place of meeting of great men ready to do great things for the greatest Empire that the world has ever known.

Only one thought, not my own, in order to extenuate somewhat any fault upon my own part. Some lines which today, as heretofore, I find ringing in my ears suggest the attitude of splendid, glorious old England herself in her feeling of, generosity towards the outlying portions of the Empire, her conception of them, so fine, so generous, so appreciative. What does she say to us? I beg of you, if you forget all that I have' said, to let these words sink into your mind and memory, and when you go out today let it be with the resolve that, , whether or not my suggestions with retard to the City, of Toronto are sound, you yourselves will see to it that as individual citizens of the British Empire you will play your part believing that thereby you do the most good for the world at large. What does the poet say?

Remote compatriots, wheresoe'er ye dwell,

By your prompt voices ringing clear and true

We know that with our England all is well:

Young is she yet, her world-task but begun!

By you we know her safe, and know by you

Her veins are million but her heart is one.