Graduation Address

"Controlled Capitalism Is System For Future" Daily Gleaner (16 May 1935). (UA Case 67, Box 1)

Mr. President, Your Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, Gentlemen of the Faculty, Young Ladies and Gentlemen of the Class of 1935:

When your President, and my good friend and fellow citizens, Dr. Jones, did me the honour a few weeks ago of inviting me to be present on this occasion and to deliver a brief address to you, I little thought that the intervening weeks would be so full of such pressing problems and engagements of one character and another as to make it well nigh impossible to find sufficient time to concentrate on the task of finding something worth while to say to you on this occasion.

I cannot hope to say anything very new or striking, but after spending a period of nearly thirty-five years exceedingly active practice at the bar, of constant contact with and participation in the commercial and business life of this Province and Dominion, and during the last fourteen year of very active participation in the political and Parliamentary life of Canada, I may be permitted to draw upon a fairly large personal experience, and give you the benefit of some sound advice, and perchance assist you to avoid some of the pitfalls which may confront you.

A Great Day Recalled

I well remember the day just thirty-six years ago this month when the beloved President of my own University, as I knelt before him at Convocation, placed a black stuff hood over my shoulders, capped me and handed me my parchment and at the same time pronounced the magic words—"Ego admitto te ad gradum Baccalaurel in Artibus in hac Universitate." All the world seemed bright then. Outside the birds sang, the spring flowers were in bloom and their fragrance filled the air and all was well with the world. On that same occasion the graduating class was addressed by a gentleman then high in the public life of this country, and destined for higher honour and public service, and while I do not remember the subject of his speech or indeed much, if any, of its substance, I do remember that he enunciated an old but profound truth which I have never forgotten and which I have carried in my mind all through the intervening years, and it is this, that in this life you will never get something for nothing, and I desire now to impress upon you as strongly as I may the desirability, nay the necessity of your immediately recognizing this wholesome and fundamental truth.

Nothing for Nothing

You and I have often heard some individuals, not many I hope, give expression to the view that the world owes them a living. I wish to sharply challenge that viewpoint and to assert as emphatically as I may that society as such owes them nothing of the sort, but that they owe to society, as a component part thereof, their best effort, first to solve the problem of existence for themselves and after that has been accomplished then they owe to society the duty and responsibility of citizenship with all its implications, and these two objectives I suggest to you may only be attained by honest toil, and so to-day I preach to you one and all the doctrine of hard work. Personally I know of no other panacea for the ills which beset us. Neither do I think you will be happy if you do not toil, whatever your place in society.

Challenge to Capitalism

We, in common with all the world, have been passing through troublous times during the past six or seven years. The economic system under which society exists, the capitalistic system has been severely challenged during that period, and the charge is made on all sides and in many countries that the capitalistic system has either failed or outlived its usefulness and should and will disappear. The problem is too vast to deal with casually in the course of a short address like this, but I should like to put to you this query: If you do away with Capitalism as we know it, what system will you substitute for it? And when I put this query to you, may I also be permitted to admonish you that in considering the problem there is need for absolutely clear thinking. I hope and trust that if your years in this fine old University have done one thing for you, it is, above all others, that you have been trained to think clearly. If your career here has not taught you the necessity and value of straight thinking, clear mental vision and logical reasoning, then I suggest to you that in so far as you have not attained these powers you have failed to attain one of the fundamental objects of a University training.

There is too much loose thinking to-day, and I regret to say that some of it is found in high places where one would least expect it. The great necessity of the hour in dealing with the immense problems which confront us as a National and which await solution is the return to clear and rational thinking. You, as you step out in the world, have a great mission before you. As educated men and women it will be your duty and privilege to lead your less fortunate fellows along sane lines, to the end that the nation may not be led astray by the advocated of new economic nostrums, many of them fallacious, poured out upon us with such profusion in these recent years.

What are the alternatives to Capitalism? Shall we accept Socialism, under which the State is substituted for the individual? A system under which private property and private rewards disappear; where we look to the State to be the parent, guide and arbiter of all our functions as distinguished from private ownership and individuality. It involved the abdication of individual initiative and the destruction of the motivation of private profit. It is contrary to all our education and ambitions. It may displace Capitalism, but I venture to think that our essays in the realm of Government ownership and operation of business in Canada have not been successful. Recently they had a Socialist Government in England and my observation teaches me that that Government, whatever it may have preached before it came into office, on assuming office rapidly adopted the capitalistic policies of its predecessors and did it rather badly too. No, I do not think we shall adopt Socialism. To do so would be to put aside forever the individualism which is innate to each of us and is one of our most precious possessions.

Communism?

Shall it be Communism? Well, Communism is Socialism reinforced by force. It denies all rights of individual liberty, and all rights of individual property, and is repugnant to every British tradition. Communism starts out to make every man a King, but I venture to suggest that in its final analysis it would end in making every man a slave.

Economic Liberalism?

There are those, and they are many, who advocate the doctrine of Economic Liberalism, sometimes known as the doctrine of "laissez-faire." At this particular stage in the world’s history and development, I suggest to you that is fatal defect is that it refuses to be practical and to face the world’s realities. Economic Liberalism as it exists in the world to-day is not a practical policy at all: it is a state of mind—a sort of fatalism. In as much as it acknowledges that it is not concerned with consequences, and boasts that it is a conditioning process, its success depends upon how men react to conditions, without restraint upon their reactions, or protection from them. Viewing things as they are, it appears to me to be a hopeless policy for the world to pursue, and wholly impracticable. It may have existence or success only in a perfect world, or perhaps to be more accurate in a world which it is hoped to make perfect.

Controlled Capitalism Preferred

No, I think none of these theories will displace the Capitalistic system, or commend themselves to you. As Canadians and as conservative thinking men and women, we do not lightly overthrow that which has proven itself to be good in the past, but because of economic conditions presently existing we have been searching and investigating the system which has come down to us from our forefathers. We have discovered not that the system per se is bad, but that is has been the subject of great abuses, and in many instances the prominence of the abuses has caused some people to lose sight of the many splendid qualities and attributes it possesses. Instead of its destruction therefore, I suggest to you that we institute a policy or reform of the system; that we pursue a policy of a controlled Capitalism of a supervised and disciplined Capitalism, which while recognizing the rights of property as well as individuals and human rights, will reject the claim that the rights of property may be exercised without restraint, without penalty, and without exercise of the State’s authority. It is my philosophy that life, while remaining free, must be subject to reasonable discipline, that liberty, which we as individuals prize so highly, may not degenerate into license. Therefore I commend to you the theory of a moral and disciplined capitalism in which the State shall exercise the benevolent rule of moderator.

"Sweet Reasonableness"

I will go a little further, if I may. I would commend to you as straight-thinking educated men and women, the philosophy of the Sermon on the Mount, and the application in your day-to-day life of the principles of the golden rule, and in your every day intercourse with your fellow-men may I commend to you as a cardinal principle the exercise, so far as may be possible of that "sweet reasonableness" of which Matthew Arnold speaks in his splendid essay on "Sweetness and Light."

Service to the Public

I should like to say a further word to you, not by way of preaching but as a suggestion. After you have solved the problem of existence, and I have every confidence you will speedily accomplish that end, and after you have established yourselves as citizens of our common country and found your places in our body politic, I would suggest to you that it is your duty to give as freely as possible of your time and talent to community and public service. You, or some of you, will in due course of time become leaders of public opinion in your respective communities and occupy responsible positions. I pray you to use your power and authority for the public good and to devote at least some portion of your leisure in the service of your community and country. She needs you, never more in her history will she feel the need of trained, educated and enlightened public service than during the next ten to twenty years. There will be many disappointments and disillusionments for you but there will also be many consolations, rewards and compensations. You may not all reach the top or achieve great material success, but if you give of your best you will at least have the great personal satisfaction of knowing that you have made a real contribution to the welfare of the State and of society and that in itself will be a substantial reward. University men and women are needed as never before in the councils of the state, and there is always room at the top. It may be of interest to you to know that in the present Cabinet at Ottawa, out of a total of 18 members, no less than 13 are University graduates in law of the University of Dalhousie. In the House of Commons and in the Senate the proportion of University men is not so large relatively, but it is still substantial and growing in numbers and power with the passing years. Who knows but that among you may be a future Prime Minister—the first citizen of Canada!

Value of Friendship

May I give you a further bit of advice. I have proven in my own career, beyond peradventure, that to succeed in life one must have friends. No man at all events in a comparatively new country like Canada is likely to attain great success in any walk in life by his own unaided efforts. We have heard a great deal about self-made men, and we sometimes point to them with pride, but I venture to think that at some time in the course of their lives someone has given a helping hand and provided an opportunity. More often than not it has been a devoted mother—as witness the history of the present Prime Minister. And if you would have friends it is axiomatic I think that you yourself should be friendly. What a virtue is friendship! Cultivate it carefully. It is not found in gross people. It is a delicate flower, but from lack of nurture and cultivation it may wither and die.

Word for Alma Mater

In conclusion may I offer to you, one and all, my very best wishes for your future success. Whether Dame Fortune smiles upon you or you meet with rebuff at the hands of the old hussy, I hope you will always cherish and maintain a warm affection for your old Alma Mater. Next to your own parents no single agency has done so much to fit you for the battle of life, and you owe a corresponding obligation to her. She stands for a great ideal and has made a very distinct and great contribution to our national life. Hold her banner high and endeavor by your own careers to reflect credit upon her. In your getting of material things do not forget her. She cannot flourish as she should without your moral and material support.

Some of you will attain great success, others will not be so fortunate, but the word failure has no place on the lexicon of youth and in all your getting be it great or small, I beseech you one and all, get wisdom.