The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-12-28

since the first settlement Of our country, there
has not been period in which such great ant
tremendous energies have been engaged In pro
netting our national advancement
With that peculiar tact and Siscernment char
acteristic Of the American people, men apprehend
that :hc true secret Of nations greatness lies In
the combined efforts Of the people themselves
The experience Of the past has taught us tina,
Congrsssss and Legislatures can do but little to
wards the great work Of internal improvement, III
comparison Of what the people themselves can dc
when left to their own wits and their own re-
sources. Private capital employed for the iaciii-
tation of intercourse and commerce among our.
selves is, and is to be hereafter the chief spring
Of all our enterprise.
The spirit that now animatss and impels on.
ward, is restless, daring and f.r,reaching beyond
that o.! any age which has gone before us.
! Let one but turn his eve toward the cas-; or to-
ward the west ant contemplate the grea; under
takngs Of the present hour What minds are en-,
gagged in projecting schemes for railway commu'
nication with the Atlantic. Each company on the
| rivaling and wooing routes grasping in thought
the whole present and ihs future, in then bear.
ngs upon their interests, and forecastng the des,
TIMES Of things as with prophets glance.
| The great subject of Rodds-highrays for pro
dues engages the people Of Ohio, and stirs the
energies there. Plank Roads. connecting with
Railways and Canals are projecting building and
| engrossiny the conversation and minds Of men
They are beginning to see that to coin produce in,
| to gold, with as great rapidity and facility as
could be desired, needs only channels for eommu.
nicaticn with msrkets-hat there are always rea-
| dy markets when there can be swift going back
and forth They are seeing that the enormous
expenses of carrying back and forth by teams can
( ali be saved-both the money and the tne-by
bringing the market TO their doors.
/ Rochester Buffalo. Milwaukee Chicago cities
ola few wears old, show the value Of tree COM
munichtion to ready market, and the bearing Of
both these on tne accumulation Of wealth and the
increasing comforts of life.
The spirit Of enterprise in Ohio, is fcl, in Mich
isan, is stirring up the people Of Illinois, and is
making itself felt in Iowa. The inhabitant Of To-
wa will soon--yes, verify is now firing the en-
gives to carry the immense products thence to the
east. Soon along the roads Of iron will thunder
past lis night and day the heavy ireghts of cities
at the west
five would have the advantages Of early mar
ke,s We must stir in season. We must link in
ourselves with the onward movements. We must
aim a. great results and press ON to reach them
But We must begin at the foundation. 1t will
be useless to begin at the top Of the chimney and
build downwards. We wan, farms and farmers.
And the farmers want brains. And We must
establish factories to improve such brains rs they
have. We want enterprising and ingenioas me-
chanics; and to have them We must tram them
We want liberal minded and larger souled mer-
chants; and professional men who have liberal
education. We cant always import them, and
we would not if we could. Our system Of educa-
ton must be improved, and that fundamentally,
so as to attract among us men Of worth, and en-
terprisc, and to raise up others; or We must be
satisfied to live alone, plan and perform our own
undertakngs-or rather talk about them, while
they are not performed.
We must work at the foundation also TO i'm.
prove the morals rs we'll as the mind We must
go to work on higher and nobler principles. We
want and we must have God fearing men to man.
age our affairs. THIS county has los. mere mon
ey through the rascaity of its citizens, their ex-
orbiant charges and lavish expenditures than
would be requisite TO improve the Illinois river
for navigation to our town.
The men Of business among us who violate tie
sabbath, are aiming heavy blows a: the folnda
ton ofpublic morality. 1t will be poor business
to build up with ole hand and throw down with
the other.
Twenty thousand dollars is large sum for
new county like this, to spend on whiskey and
stuff But il it must go, and nothing can be done
TO helpit, why then let us foot the bill
IT. however La Sale county is ever to look ur
and make rapid onward movement in things no.
table and praiseworthy itmust begnat the found
ation-and now's the time