Page 82 - Vinkler, Jonatan, Ana Beguš and Marcello Potocco. Eds. 2019. Ideology in the 20th Century: Studies of literary and social discourses and practices. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 82
Ideology in the 20th Century: studies of literary and social discourses and practices
er country despite drawing away from its political system (Stouck 1972,
9—10; cf. Moisan 1983). The failed attempt of the American invasion
(1812—1814) was an additional encouragement that made a detached po-
litical affiliation with Great Britain acceptable also for the French-speak-
ing community (cf. Lipset 1986). Thus leaning towards Great Britain
could be seen as a self-defensive decision. Establishing the Dominion
of Canada (the so-called Confederation) in 1867 was a factor of polit-
ical protection against the United States of America,1 which kept Do-
minion in the framework of the British tradition (Watt 1965, 457), al-
though it enjoyed a limited political autonomy.2 Quotes by the writers
and the politicians engaged in the field of culture clearly express the am-
biguity of the colonial situation (see Daymond and Monkman 1984): in
82 the emerging cultural nationalism Anglo-Canadian version of national-
ism prevailed, as the intellectual elite positioned Canadian culture in-
side the British tradition. Even more so, from time to time, the national-
ism advocated the idea of Canada being a factor of revitalising the empire
(Daymond and Monkman 1984). The latter is particularly evident in the
rhetoric of two poems, Canada Speaks of Britain (1941) by Charles G. D.
Roberts (1860—1943), which is actually a late example of Confederation
nationalism, and The Lazarus of Empire (1899) by William W. Campbell
(1860—1918). Both texts were addressing Canadians to actively engage in
the life of the empire, Roberts’ text even on the doorstep of World War II
(Campbell 1899, 93; Roberts 1942, 37). Moreover, the editor of the most
important among the first anthologies of Canadian poetry, Songs of the
Great Dominion (1889), William D. Lighthall, explicitly stresses Canada’s
involvement in the unified British empire (Lighthall 1889, xxi—xxiii).
Last but not least, a telltale example of the Britishness of Canadian na-
tionalism before World War II, although late and specific due to its role
of mobilising soldiers, is also the collection of patriotic poetry Flying Col-
1 Even after the Confederation was formed, the United States of America still harbored
an intention to expand into the north; the success of the Canadian Confederation
depended on the integration of British Columbia, which was deciding between join-
ing the USA or the Dominion. Uncertainty also revealed itself in the Alaska border
dispute, in which the United States of America turned out to be more successful, af-
ter Great Britain took a stand against the demands made by its own dominion in ar-
bitration, and the territory was adjudged to the USA.
2 It was only when the Westminster Statute (1931) was passed that the Dominion
reached real political autonomy in Commonwealth, for example with its own, inde-
pendent military and external politics.
er country despite drawing away from its political system (Stouck 1972,
9—10; cf. Moisan 1983). The failed attempt of the American invasion
(1812—1814) was an additional encouragement that made a detached po-
litical affiliation with Great Britain acceptable also for the French-speak-
ing community (cf. Lipset 1986). Thus leaning towards Great Britain
could be seen as a self-defensive decision. Establishing the Dominion
of Canada (the so-called Confederation) in 1867 was a factor of polit-
ical protection against the United States of America,1 which kept Do-
minion in the framework of the British tradition (Watt 1965, 457), al-
though it enjoyed a limited political autonomy.2 Quotes by the writers
and the politicians engaged in the field of culture clearly express the am-
biguity of the colonial situation (see Daymond and Monkman 1984): in
82 the emerging cultural nationalism Anglo-Canadian version of national-
ism prevailed, as the intellectual elite positioned Canadian culture in-
side the British tradition. Even more so, from time to time, the national-
ism advocated the idea of Canada being a factor of revitalising the empire
(Daymond and Monkman 1984). The latter is particularly evident in the
rhetoric of two poems, Canada Speaks of Britain (1941) by Charles G. D.
Roberts (1860—1943), which is actually a late example of Confederation
nationalism, and The Lazarus of Empire (1899) by William W. Campbell
(1860—1918). Both texts were addressing Canadians to actively engage in
the life of the empire, Roberts’ text even on the doorstep of World War II
(Campbell 1899, 93; Roberts 1942, 37). Moreover, the editor of the most
important among the first anthologies of Canadian poetry, Songs of the
Great Dominion (1889), William D. Lighthall, explicitly stresses Canada’s
involvement in the unified British empire (Lighthall 1889, xxi—xxiii).
Last but not least, a telltale example of the Britishness of Canadian na-
tionalism before World War II, although late and specific due to its role
of mobilising soldiers, is also the collection of patriotic poetry Flying Col-
1 Even after the Confederation was formed, the United States of America still harbored
an intention to expand into the north; the success of the Canadian Confederation
depended on the integration of British Columbia, which was deciding between join-
ing the USA or the Dominion. Uncertainty also revealed itself in the Alaska border
dispute, in which the United States of America turned out to be more successful, af-
ter Great Britain took a stand against the demands made by its own dominion in ar-
bitration, and the territory was adjudged to the USA.
2 It was only when the Westminster Statute (1931) was passed that the Dominion
reached real political autonomy in Commonwealth, for example with its own, inde-
pendent military and external politics.
