Does not justice demand that fitting honor should be done to that other great Father of Confederation, Sir George Etienne Cartier, by the erection of a memorial in the city which he represented in Parliament for so many years, and for whose interests he strove so zealously?
When in November, 1910, at a meeting held at the St. Jean Baptiste Market Hall in this city, it was proposed by Mr. E. W. Villeneuve, now president of the Cartier Centenary Committee, whom we have with us to-day, that the centenary of Cartier's birth should be appropriately commemorated and that steps should be taken for the erection of a monument to his memory, the proposal was enthusiastically taken up. Since then the movement has assumed not only a national but an Empire scope, and representatives of every portion of the Empire will be present at the commemorative celebration next year. The movement, it may be mentioned is absolutely non-partisan in character, it being recognized that Cartier's memory is a national possession. The Prime Minister of the Dominion, Right Hon. R. L. Borden; the leader of the Liberal Party, Sir Wilfrid Laurier; the Prime Minister of the Province of Quebec, Sir Lomer Gouin; the Prime Ministers of all the Provinces; leading Liberals as well as Conservatives, throughout the Dominion, have united to render homage to the memory of one who did so much for Canada. Thanks to the co-operation and support of the Dominion Government and the Governments of all the Provinces, the erection of a splendid memorial, which will stand on one of the slopes of Mount Royal, and the first stone of which will be laid by His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught, on September 1st next, is now practically assured. The memorial, the work of the eminent Canadian sculptor, Mr. G. W. Hill, will not only serve to honor and perpetuate Cartier's memory, but will also commemorate the establishment of Confederation, in which he played such a conspicuous part. In addition to the imposing statue of Cartier the memorial will bear statues representing every one of the nine provinces of the Dominion, the whole symbolical of that United Canada, which was one of Cartier's cherished dreams.
In connection with the unveiling of the memorial, it is proposed to hold a series of commemorative celebrations, and it is confidently expected that the citizens of Montreal, ever alive as they are to the interests and reputation of the commercial metropolis, will give their hearty support and co-operation in making the celebration worthy not only of the memory of the great statesman, but also of the leading city of the Dominion, with which he was so closely identified.
And when, Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, on the 6th of September of next year, the one hundredth anniversary of Cartier's birth, amidst the plaudits of hundreds of thousands of Canadians of all origins, creeds, and political leanings, the veil shall be removed from the magnificent memorial which shall stand on one of the commanding slopes of Mount Royal, testifying to the grateful recognition of the whole Dominion, justice shall have been done to the memory of one who loved his country, who accomplished great works for its benefit, whose heart was ever stirred by that feeling of ardent devotion to his native land which he himself expressed in those burning words of patriotism:
"O Canada, Mon Pays, Mes Amours!"[6]
O CANADA, MY OWN BELOVED LAND![7]
From the French "O CANADA, MON PAYS, MES AMOURS,"
of Sir George Etienne Cartier.