The Major

R >> Ralph Connor >> The Major


At some length the speaker proceeded to develop the idea of the
necessary connection between autocracy and militarism, and the relation
of autocratic and military power to wars of conquest. "The German
Kaiser," he continued, "is ready for war as no would-be world conqueror
in the world's history has ever been ready. The German Kaiser cherishes
the purpose to make war, and this purpose is shared in and approved by
the whole body of the German people." These facts he challenged any
one to controvert. If these things were so, what should Canada do?
Manifestly one thing only--she should prepare to do her duty in
defending herself and the great Empire. "So far," he continued, "I have
raised no controversial points. I have purposely abstained from dealing
with questions that may be regarded from a partisan point of view. I
beg now to refer to a subject which unhappily has become a matter of
controversy in Canada--the subject, namely, of the construction of a
Canadian Navy. [Disturbance in various parts of the building.] You
have been patient. I earnestly ask you to be patient for a few moments
longer. Both political parties fortunately are agreed upon two points;
first, that Canada must do its share and is willing to do its share in
the defence of the Empire. On this point all Canadians are at one, all
Canadians are fully determined to do their full duty to the Empire which
has protected Canada during its whole history, and with which it is
every loyal Canadian's earnest desire to maintain political connection.
Second, Canada must have a Navy. Unfortunately, while we agree upon
these two points, there are two points upon which we differ. First,
we differ upon the method to be adopted in constructing our Navy and,
second, upon the question of Navy control in war. In regard to the
second point, I would only say that I should be content to leave the
settlement of that question to the event. When war comes that question
will speedily be settled, and settled, I am convinced, in a way
consistent with what we all desire to preserve, Canadian autonomy.
In regard to the first, I would be willing to accept any method of
construction that promised efficiency and speed, and with all my power
I oppose any method that necessitates delay. Considerations of such
questions as location of dockyards, the type of ship, the size of ship,
I contend, are altogether secondary. The main consideration is speed.
I leave these facts and arguments with you, and speaking not as a party
politician but simply as a loyal Canadian and as a loyal son of the
Empire, I would say, 'In God's name, for our country's honour and for
the sake of our Empire's existence, let us with our whole energy and
with all haste prepare for war.'"

The silence that greeted the conclusion of this address gave eloquent
proof of the profound impression produced.

As the chairman rose to close the meeting the audience received a shock.
The raucous voice of Holtzman was heard again demanding the privilege of
asking two questions.

"The first question I would ask, Mr. Chairman, is this: Is not this
immense war preparation of Germany explicable on the theory of the
purpose of defence? Mr. Allen knows well that both on the eastern
and southern frontiers Germany is threatened by the aggression of
the Pan-Slavic movement, and to protect herself from this Pan-Slavic
movement, together with a possible French alliance, the war preparations
of Germany are none too vast. Besides, I would ask Mr. Allen, What about
Britain's vast navy?"

"The answer to this question," said Mr. Allen, "is quite simple. What
nation has threatened Germany for the past forty years? On the contrary,
every one knows that since 1875 five separate times has Germany
threatened war against France and twice against Russia. Furthermore
military experts assure us that in defensive war an army equipped with
modern weapons can hold off from four to eight times its own strength.
It is absurd to say that Germany's military preparations are purely
defensive. As for Britain's navy, the answer is equally simple.
Britain's Empire is like no other Empire in the world in that it lies
spread out upon the seven seas. It is essential to her very life that
she be able to keep these waterways open to her ships. Otherwise she
exists solely upon the sufferance of any nation that can wrest from her
the supremacy of the sea. At her will Germany has the right to close
against all the world the highways of her empire; the highways of
Britain's empire are the open seas which she shares with the other
nations of the world and which she cannot close. Therefore, these
highways she must be able to make safe."

"If Mr. Allen imagines that this answer of his will satisfy any but the
most bigoted Britain, I am content. Another question I would ask. Does
not Mr. Allen think that if the capitalistic classes, who leave their
burdens to be borne by the unhappy proletariat, were abolished wars
would immediately cease? Does he not know that recently it was proved in
Germany that the Krupps were found to be promoting war scares in France
in the interests of their own infernal trade? And lastly does not
history prove that Britain is the great robber nation of the world? And
does he not think that it is time she was driven from her high place by
a nation which is her superior, commercially, socially, intellectually
and every other way?"

As if by a preconcerted signal it seemed as if the whole top gallery
broke into a pandemonium of approving yells, while through other parts
of the house arose fierce shouts, "Throw him out." Mr. Allen rose and
stood quietly waiting till the tumult had ceased.

"If the gentleman wishes to engage me in a discussion on socialism, my
answer is that this is not the time nor place for such a discussion. The
question which I have been considering is one much too grave to be mixed
up with an academic discussion of any socialistic theories."

"Aha! Aha!" laughed Holtzman scornfully.

"As for Britain's history, that stands for all the world to read. All
the nations have been guilty of crimes; but let me say that any one who
knows the history of Germany for the last three hundred years is aware
that in unscrupulous aggression upon weaker neighbours, in treachery to
friend and foe, Germany is the equal of any nation in the world. But
if you consider her history since 1864 Germany stands in shameless
and solitary pre-eminence above any nation that has ever been for
unscrupulous greed, for brutal, ruthless oppression of smaller peoples,
and for cynical disregard of treaty covenants, as witness Poland,
Austria, Denmark, Holland and France. As to the treachery of the Krupps,
I believe the gentleman is quite right, but I would remind him that
the Kaiser has no better friend to-day than Bertha Krupp, and she is a
German."

From every part of the theatre rose one mighty yell of delight and
derision, during which Holtzman stood wildly gesticulating and shouting
till a hand was seen to reach his collar and he disappeared from view.
Once more order was restored and the chairman on the point of closing
the meeting, when Larry said to his friend Smart:

"I should dearly love to take a hand in this."

"Jump in," said Smart, and Larry "jumped in."

"Mr. Chairman," he said quietly, "may I ask Mr. Allen a question?"

"No," said the chairman in curt reply. "The hour is late and I think
further discussion at present is unprofitable."

But here Mr. Allen interposed. "I hope, Mr. Chairman," he said, "you
will allow my young friend, Mr. Gwynne, of whose brilliant achievements
in our University we are all so proud, to ask his question."

"Very well," said the chairman in no good will.

"Allow me to thank Mr. Allen for his courtesy," said Larry. "Further I
wish to say that though by birth, by training, and by conviction I am a
pacifist and totally opposed to war, yet to-night I have been profoundly
impressed by the imposing array of facts presented by the speaker and
by the arguments built upon these facts, and especially by the fine
patriotic appeal with which Mr. Allen closed his address. But I am not
satisfied, and my question is this--"

"Will not Mr. Gwynne come to the platform?" said Mr. Allen.

"Thank you," said Larry, "I prefer to stay where I am, I am much too
shy."

Cries of "Platform! Platform!" however, rose on every side, to which
Larry finally yielded, and encouraged by the cheers of his fellow
students and of his other friends in the audience, he climbed upon the
platform. His slight, graceful form, the look of intellectual strength
upon his pale face, his modest bearing, his humorous smile won sympathy
even from those who were impatient at the prolonging of the meeting.

"Mr. Chairman," he began with an exaggerated look of fear upon his face,
"I confess I am terrified by the position in which I find myself, and
were it not that I feel deeply the immense importance of this question
and the gravity of the appeal with which the speaker closed his address,
I would not have ventured to say a word. My first question is this: Does
not Mr. Allen greatly exaggerate the danger of war with Germany? And my
reasons for this question are these. Every one knows that the relations
between Great Britain and Germany have been steadily improving during
the last two or three years. I note in this connection a statement made
only a few months ago by the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. Winston
Churchill. It reads as follows:

"'The Germans are a nation with robust minds and a high sense of honour
and fair play. They look at affairs in a practical military spirit.
They like to have facts put squarely before them. They do not want them
wrapped up lest they should be shocked by them, and relations between
the two countries have steadily improved during the past year. They have
steadily improved side by side with every evidence of our determination
to maintain our naval supremacy.'

"These words spoken in the British House of Commons give us Mr. Winston
Churchill's deliberate judgment as to the relations between Germany and
Great Britain. Further Mr. Allen knows that during the past two years
various peace delegations composed of people of the highest standing
in each country have exchanged visits. I understand from private
correspondence from those who have promoted these delegations that
the last British delegation was received in Germany with the utmost
enthusiasm by men of all ranks and professions, generals, admirals,
burgomasters, professors and by the Kaiser himself, all professing
devotion to the cause of peace and all wishing the delegation Godspeed.
Surely these are indications that the danger of war is passing away.
You, Sir, have made an appeal for war preparation tonight, a great and
solemn appeal and a moving appeal for war--merciful God, for war! I have
been reading about war during the past three months, I have been reading
again Zola's Debacle--a great appeal for preparedness, you would say.
Yes, but a terrific picture of the woes of war."

Larry paused. A great silence had fallen upon the people. There flashed
across his mind as he spoke a vision of war's red, reeking way across
the fair land of France. In a low but far-penetrating voice, thrilling
with the agonies which were spread out before him in vision, he pictured
the battlefield with its mad blood lust, the fury of men against men
with whom they had no quarrel, the mangled ruins of human remains in
dressing station and hospital, the white-faced, wild-eyed women waiting
at home, and back of all, safe, snug and cynical, the selfish, ambitious
promoters of war. Steady as a marching column without pause or falter,
in a tone monotonous yet thrilling with a certain subdued passion, he
gave forth his indictment of war. He was on familiar ground for this had
been the theme of his prize essay last winter. But to-night the thing to
him was vital, terrifying, horrible. He was delivering no set address,
but with all the power of his soul he was pleading for comrades
and friends, for wives and sweethearts, for little babes and for
white-haired mothers, "and in the face of all this, you are asking us
to prepare that we Canadians, peaceful and peace-loving, should do our
share to perpetrate this unspeakable outrage upon our fellow men, this
insolent affront against Almighty God. Tell me, if Canada, if Britain,
were to expend one-tenth, one-hundredth part of the energy, skill,
wealth, in promoting peace which they spend on war, do you not think
we might have a surer hope of warding off from our Canadian homes this
unspeakable horror?" With white face and flaming eyes, his form tense
and quivering, he stood facing the advocate of war. For some moments,
during which men seemed scarcely to breathe, the two faced each other.
Then in a voice that rang throughout the theatre as it had not in all
his previous speech, but vibrant with sad and passionate conviction, Mr.
Allen made reply.

"It is to ward off from our people and from our Canadian homes this
calamity that you have so vividly pictured for us that I have made my
appeal to-night. Your enemy who seeks your destruction will be more
likely to halt in his spring if you cover him with your gun than if you
appeal to him with empty hands. For this reason, it is that once more I
appeal to my fellow Canadians in God's name, in the name of all that
we hold dear, let us with all our power and with all speed prepare for
war."

"God Save the King," said the Chairman. And not since the thrilling days
of Mafeking had Winnipeg people sung that quaint archaic, but moving
anthem as they sang it that night.



CHAPTER XIX

THE CLOSING OF THE DOOR


From the remarks of his friends even as they thronged him, offering
congratulations, Mr. Allen could easily gather that however impressive
his speech had been, few of his audience had taken his warning
seriously.

"You queered my speech, Larry," he said, "but I forgive you."

"Not at all, Sir," replied Larry. "You certainly got me."

"I fear," replied Mr. Allen, "that I am 'the voice crying in the
wilderness.'"

At the Allens' party Larry was overwhelmed with congratulations on his
speech, the report of which had been carried before him by his friends.

"They tell me your speech was quite thrilling," said Mrs. Allen as she
greeted Larry.

"Your husband is responsible for everything," replied Larry.

"No," said Mr. Allen, "Miss Jane here is finally responsible. Hers were
the big shells I fired."

"Not mine," replied Jane. "I got them from Mr. Romayne, your
brother-in-law, Larry."

"Well, I'm blowed!" said Larry. "That's where the stuff came from! But
it was mighty effective, and certainly you put it to us, Mr. Allen.
You made us all feel like fighting. Even Scuddy, there, ran amuck for a
while."

"What?" said Mr. Allen, "you don't really mean to say that Scudamore,
our genial Y. M. C. A. Secretary, was in that scrap? That cheers me
greatly."

"Was he!" said Ramsay Dunn, whose flushed face and preternaturally grave
demeanour sufficiently explained his failure to appear at Dr. Brown's
dinner. "While Mr. Smart's life was saved by the timely upper-cut of our
distinguished pacifist, Mr. Gwynne, without a doubt Mr. Scudamore--hold
him there, Scallons, while I adequately depict his achievement--"
Immediately Scallons and Ted Tuttle, Scudamore's right and left supports
on the scrimmage line, seized him and held him fast. "As I was saying,"
continued Dunn, "great as were the services rendered to the cause by our
distinguished pacifist, Mr. Gwynne, the supreme glory must linger round
the head of our centre scrim and Y. M. C. A. Secretary, Mr. Scudamore,
to whose effective intervention both Mr. Smart and Mr. Gwynne owe the
soundness of their physical condition which we see them enjoying at the
present moment."

In the midst of his flowing periods Dunn paused abruptly and turned
away. He had caught sight of Jane's face, grieved and shocked, in
the group about him. Later he approached her with every appearance of
profound humiliation. "Miss Brown," he said, "I must apologise for not
appearing at dinner this evening."

"Oh, Mr. Dunn," said Jane, "why will you do it? Why break the hearts of
all your friends?"

"Why? Because I am a fool," he said bitterly. "If I had more friends
like you, Miss Brown," he paused abruptly, then burst forth, "Jane, you
always make me feel like a beast." But Larry's approach cut short any
further conversation.

"Jane, I want to talk to you," said Larry impetuously. "Let us get away
somewhere."

In the library they found a quiet spot, where they sat down.

"I want to tell you," said Larry, "that I feel that I treated you
shabbily to-day. I have only a poor excuse to offer, but I should like
to explain."

"Don't, Larry," said Jane, her words coming with hurried impetuosity. "I
was very silly. I had quite forgotten it. You know we have always told
each other things, and I expected that you would come in this morning
just to talk over your medal, and I did want a chance to say how glad I
was for you, and how glad and how proud I knew your mother would be; and
to tell the truth really," she added with a shy little laugh, "I wanted
to have you congratulate me on my prize too. But, Larry, I understand
how you forgot."

"Forgot!" said Larry. "No, Jane, I did not forget, but this telegram
from Chicago came last night, and I was busy with my packing all
morning and then in the afternoon I thought I would hurry through a few
calls--they always take longer than one thinks--and before I knew it I
was late for dinner. I had not forgotten; I was thinking of you all day,
Jane."

"Were you, Larry?" said Jane, a gentle tenderness in her smile. "I am
glad."

Then a silence fell between them for some moments. They were both
thinking of the change that was coming to their lives. Larry was
wondering how he would ever do without this true-hearted friend whose
place in his life he was only discovering now to be so large. He glanced
at her. Her eyes were glowing with a soft radiance that seemed to
overflow from some inner spring.

"Jane," he cried with a sudden impulse, "you are lovely, you are
perfectly lovely."

A shy, startled, eager look leaped into her eyes. Then her face grew
pale. She waited, expectant, tremulous. But at that instant a noisy
group passed into the library.

"Larry," whispered Jane, turning swiftly to him and laying her hand upon
his arm, "you will take me home to-night."

"All right, Jane, of course," said Larry.

As they passed out from the library Helen Brookes met them. "Larry, come
here," she said in a voice of suppressed excitement. "Larry, don't you
want to do something for me? Scuddy wants to take me home tonight, and I
don't want him to."

"But why not, Helen? You ought to be good to Scuddy, poor chap. He's a
splendid fellow, and I won't have him abused."

"Not to-night, Larry; I can't have him to-night. You will take me home,
won't you? I am going very soon."

"You are, eh? Well, if you can go within ten minutes, I shall be ready."

"Say fifteen," said Helen, turning to meet Lloyd Rushbrook, the Beau
Brummel of the college, who came claiming a dance.

Larry at once went in search of Jane to tell her of his engagement with
Helen Brookes, but could find her nowhere, and after some time spent in
a vain search, he left a message for her with his hostess. At the head
of the stairs he found Helen waiting.

"Oh, hurry, Larry," she cried in a fever of excitement. "Let's get away
quickly."

"Two minutes will do me," said Larry, rushing into the dressing room.

There he found Scudamore pacing up and down in fierce, gloomy silence.

"You are taking her home, Larry?" he said.

"Who?" said Larry. Then glancing at his face, he added, "Yes, Scuddy, I
am taking Helen home. She is apparently in a great hurry."

"She need not be; I shall not bother her any more," said Scuddy
bitterly, "and you can tell her that for me, if you like."

"No, I won't tell her that, Scuddy," said Larry, "and, Scuddy," he
added, imparting a bit of worldly wisdom, "campaigns are not won in a
single battle, and, Scuddy, remember too that the whistling fisherman
catches the fish. So cheer up, old boy." But Scuddy only glowered at
him.

Larry found Helen awaiting him, and quietly they slipped out together.
"This is splendid of you, Larry," she said, taking his arm and giving
him a little squeeze.

"I don't know about that, Helen. I left Scuddy raging upstairs there.
You girls are the very devil for cruelty sometimes. You get men serious
with you, then you flirt and flutter about till the unhappy wretches
don't know where they are at. Here's our car."

"Car!" exclaimed Helen. "With this moonlight, Larry? And you going away
to-morrow? Not if I know it."

"It is fearfully unromantic, Helen, I know. But I must hurry. I have to
take Jane home."

"Oh, Jane! It's always Jane, Jane!"

"Well, why not?" said Larry. "For years Jane has been my greatest pal,
my best friend."

"Nothing more?" said Helen earnestly. "Cross your heart, Larry."

"Nothing more, cross my heart and all the rest of it," replied Larry.
"Why! here's another car, Helen."

"Oh, Larry, you are horrid, perfectly heartless! We may never walk
together again. Here I am throwing myself at you and you only think
of getting away back." Under her chaffing words there sounded a deeper
note.

"So I see," said Larry, laughing and refusing to hear the deeper
undertone. "But I see something else as well."

"What?" challenged Helen.

"I see Scuddy leading out from Trinity some day the loveliest girl in
Winnipeg."

"Oh, I won't talk about Scuddy," said Helen impatiently. "I want to talk
about you. Tell me about this Chicago business."

For the rest of the way home she led Larry to talk of his plans for the
future. At her door Helen held out her hand. "You won't come in, Larry,
I know, so we will say good-bye here." Her voice was gentle and earnest.
The gay, proud, saucy air which she had ever worn and which had been one
of her chief charms, was gone. The moonlight revealed a lovely wistful
face from which misty eyes looked into his. "This is the end of our good
times together, Larry. And we have had good times. You are going to be a
great man some day. I wish you all the best in life."

"Thank you, Helen," said Larry, touched by the tones of her voice and
the look in her eyes. "We have been good friends. We shall never be
anything else. With my heart I wish you--oh, just everything that is
good, Helen dear. Good-bye," he said, leaning toward her. "How lovely
you are!" he murmured.

"Good-bye, dear Larry," she whispered, lifting up her face.

"Good-bye, you dear girl," he said, and kissed her.

"Now go," she said, pushing him away from her.

"Be good to Scuddy," he replied as he turned from her and hurried away.

He broke into a run, fearing to be late, and by the time he arrived
at the Allens' door he had forgotten all about Helen Brookes and was
thinking only of Jane and of what he wanted to say to her. At the inner
door he met Macleod and Ethel coming out.

"Jane's gone," said Ethel, "some time ago."

"Gone?" said Larry.

"Yes, Scuddy took her home."

"Are they all gone?" inquired Larry.

"Yes, for the most part."

"Oh, all right then; I think I shall not go in. Good-night," he said,
turned abruptly about and set off for Dr. Brown's. He looked again at
his watch. He was surprised to find it was not so very late. Why
had Jane not waited for him? Had he hurt her again? He was sorely
disappointed. Surely she had no reason to be offended, and this was his
last night. As he thought the matter over he came to the conclusion that
now it was he that had a grievance. Arrived at Dr. Brown's house the
only light to be seen was in Jane's room upstairs. Should he go in or
should he go home and wait till to-morrow. He was too miserable to think
of going home without seeing her. He determined that he must see her at
all cost to-night. He took a pebble and flung it up against her window,
and another and another. The window opened and Jane appeared.

"Oh, Larry," she whispered. "Is it you? Wait, I shall be down."

She opened the door for him and stood waiting for him to speak. "Why
didn't you wait?" he asked, passing into the hall. "I was not very
long."

"Why should I wait, Larry?" she said quietly. "Scuddy told me you had
gone home with Helen."

"But didn't I promise that I would take you home?"

"You did, and then went away."

"Well, all I have to say, Jane, is that this is not a bit like you. I am
sorry I brought you down, and I won't keep you any longer. Good-night. I
shall see you tomorrow."

But Jane got between him and the door and stood with her back to it.
"No, Larry, you are not going away like that. Go into the study."
Larry looked at her in astonishment. This was indeed a new Jane to him.
Wrathful, imperious, she stood waving him toward the study door. In
spite of his irritation he was conscious of a new admiration for her.
Feeling a little like a boy about to receive his punishment, he passed
into the study.

"Didn't Mrs. Allen give you my message?" he said.