is responsible for so very much of the misery of our
civilization. The movement for the conservation of our
natural resources, for the protection of our forests and of
the wild life of the woods, the mountains and the coasts, is
essentially a democratic movement. Democracy, in its
essence, means that a few people shall not be allowed for
their own selfish gratification, to destroy what ought to
belong to the people as a whole. The men who destroy our
forests for their own immediate pecuniary benefit, the men
who make a lifeless desert of what were once coasts teeming
with a wonderfully varied bird life, these, whether rich or
poor, and their fellows in destruction of every type, are
robbing the whole people, are robbing the citizens of the
future of their natural rights. Over most of the United
States, over all of South Africa and large portions of
Canada, this destruction was permitted to go on to the
bitter end. It is late now, but it is not too late for us to
put a stop to the process elsewhere. What is being done in
Labrador is substantially what was done, and is still, in
places, being done in Florida. A resolute effort is now
being made by the Audubon Societies, and all kindred
organizations, to stop the waste in the United States. Great
good can be done by this effort, for there is still very
much left to save in the United States. But there is very
much more left to save in Canada. Canada has taken the lead
in many matters of far-reaching importance to the future
welfare of mankind, and has taught other nations much. She
can teach no more important lesson to other nations, and
incidentally, she can benefit herself in no more striking
way, than by resolutely setting to work to preserve her