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Show COALITION IN CANADA. The Conservatives need the aid of the Liberals iu order to pass a conscription act in Canada, and Premier Borden has invited Sir Wilfred Laurier' to aid in the foundation of a coalition cabinet, the authority to be equally divided be-i be-i tween the two parties. The only stipu-i stipu-i lation is that if there are not enough j voluntary enlistments to fill the de-j de-j pleted ranks of the Canadian divisions i at the front, resort will be had to com-i com-i pulsory service. The proposition is entirely en-tirely fair, for the soldiers must be ob- tained and Sir Wilfred Laurier can be i of great service to his country by c.om-j c.om-j ing forward at this critical period of the war and making use of his great , influence. I There is much opposition to conscrip-j conscrip-j tion in the province of Quebec among ' all classes. But the French Canadians I are not willing to volunteer, and a large majority of them have shirked their duty while th men from the other provinces have gone forth to battle. As Laurier is the political idol of the French Canadians, doubtless many of them will enlist if he enters the ministry minis-try and a campaign for volunteers is begun. However, if they continue to remain in the ranks of the slackers there will not be the shadow of an excuse ex-cuse for not drafting them into the service of their country. All the really great statesmen of the world have long since become convinced that the only fair way to raise an army is to lay the obligation upon all classes of citizens of the proper age, making no distinction distinc-tion between the rich and the poor, and putting guns into the hands of the cowards cow-ards as well as those who are ndt only willing but anxious to serve their country coun-try in the face of death. Sir Wilfred Laurier is a statesman j of great experience and much more than ; ordinary ability, and it is up to him to say whether or no he will lay aside party politics and political ambition and step into the breach. When the United States elected to take up arms in defense de-fense of democracy congress decided to take advice of the general staff, and au army bill carrying a selective draft provision was carried by an overwhelming over-whelming majority in both houses, and the sentiment of the country is behind the administration in carrying out the act, although heretofore conscription has been no more popular in the United States than in Great Britain, Canada and Australia.. On Tuesday the young men of the country between the ages of 21 and 30, both inclusive, will register, regis-ter, and from their number will be selected an army of almost any required size, and the work of training train-ing will begin as soon as the camps are ready. The effort to obtain volunteers enough to fill up the ranks of the regular regu-lar army and the national guard has failed, and it now appears probable that drafted men will be put into these organizations in order to bring them up to war strength. We do not believe the French Canadians Cana-dians will take up arms voluntarily, hut perhaps it is just as well to give them a final chance before compelling them to follow the flag which they profess to love and to which thv owe j allegiance. It will not take Jong to find out whether a spark of manhood can be kindled in their hearts, and if the result re-sult is failure Laurier will be greatly to blame if he does not raise his voice aud make use of "nis political power and. prestige in behalf of conscription. President Wilson has pointed the way, and a vast majority of the Republicans and Democrats arc working side by side j to register the young men of the conn- j try who are eligible for service in the army, and comparatively few of them will escape. Those who do will be imprisoned im-prisoned if caught. There is precious little difference between citizens of the United States aud citizens of Canada, and if we can put a compulsory service i in complete operation there will be uo difficulty in the Dominion if it is pos- j sible to put the act through parliament. |