The venerable Canadian statesman, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, died on Monday
at the age of seventy-seven. He was Prime Minister of the Dominion for fifteen years, from 1898 to 1911, and we shall always remember with gratitude that it was be who sent the Canadian contingent to South Africa. Sir Wilfrid Laurier opposed Conscription during this war on behalf of the French- Canadians, whose leader he was, but his patriotism and his loyalty to the Empire were beyond all question, and when the Conscription Act was ratified by the electorate in 1917 he used his influence to secure its acceptance in Quebec. We regret also to record the sudden death of Sir Mark Sykes, the Unionist Member for Central Hull, who had shown great ability as a traveller, author, and politician, and at thirty-nine seemed to be on the threshold of a brilliant career. He had an intimate knowledge of Asiatic Turkey, and rendered much useful service to our armies in the East.
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