Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-09-04

ccSSible to the affections, the hopes, the fears,
the Joys of the family hearth they will know
that their voices can still be heard daily in the
chambers of the homestead from across the
sounding sea, from their new homes in Amer
lea will not this practical humiliation ofspace
immensely stimulate the migration of these
people of Northern Europe to the healthy,
fertile and cheap lands of this congenial Nor
thern State? | think it will, my friends; |
think it will
FellowCitizens the event we celebrate
this day will contribute to another useful
purpose, also of some particular moment to
us as Mnnesotans. twill undoubtedly terH
to improve the geographical k2aomledge Of
maahiad. When, heretofore, New York, or
Philadelphia, or Boston, or Washington, have
been mistaken by even some intelligent people
in the Capitals of Europe for the names of States
of our Union, the acquaintance OF Nations OF
Europeans at large, in regard TO such a place as
Minnesota, or even concerning the entire Val
ley of the Mississippi, could hardly be eX-
pected to be very accurate or very tiatterlng
to our pride rs the Inhabitants Of both.
But | anticipate that the more frequent
nter-communicaton between this quarter of
the world bv means of the w orld's Telegraph
will Undue the European mind with juster
notices of our position and Importance For
instance: that mighty river washing the base
of our city the people of Europe may have
heard of; but, | am forced to believe, that
very few understand its Importance or appre-
ciate its greatness; or would be willing to
conccle. what is the unquestionabe truth,
that take it for all in ALL it is certainly the no
best and mishtiest stream in the world. a
recent writer has well described it: From
the frozen regions of the North to the sunny
South, it extends some three thousand one
hundred miles in length it would reach from
New York across the Atlantic, and extend
from France to Turkey, and to the Caspian
Sea. The trappers on the Upper Mississippi
can take the illrs of the animals that inhabit
Its sources and exchange them for the tropical
fruits that are gathered on the banks below.
The floods are more than a month travelling
from its source to its outlet. The total value
Of steamers ailoat on this river and Its tribu-
taries is more than six millions of dollars and
they number as many as one thousand five
hundred 1t drains an area Of one million
two hundred thousand square miles, which is
Justly styled the Garden of the World. 1t
receives a score of tributaries the least of
which are longer than the vaunted streams of
mighty Empires. 1t might furnish natural
boundaries for all Europe and yet have for
every country river larger than the Seine
1t discharges in one year more water than
has issued from the Tiber in five centuries
it swallows up fifty rivers, which have no
name, each of which is longer than the
Thames In one single reservoir, (Pepin,)
two thousand five hundred miles from the
sea, the navies of the world might safely ride
no cho of
powerful States and between its arms lies
space for twenty more"
Yet of such a river as this, the masses of
the elder world of civilization know little be-
yond It's name of Mississippi, and it is because
it will give more correct ideas of this Rivers
I'M ortancc and of the advantages possessed
by its Valley for the home Of many millions
more of hnman kind, that likewise hail with
high satisfaction the successful accomplish
ment of the Ocean Telegraph. For, to be
known, to be understood, is all that we of
Minnesota ask to ensure an acknowledgement
that our land is the best for settlement and
the best for the investment of their surplus
capital by our eastern or European breathrcn
In the coming future fellow citizens, fore
sec Il great destiny Ill store for us. Situated
as we are, Half way on the Continent be-
tween the two great Oceans, and Midway be-
tween the Pole and the Equator; the Aurora
Borealis nightly flashing its coinescations of
light over our heads, and the Father Of Wa
ters bathing our feet with his mighty floods as
he proceeds on his far southwark journy the
OF the lines Of telegraph through
the British possessions from Ocean to Ocean,
and then the laying of the Pacific Cable to
the Asiatic shore by way of the Aleutan isles as
already projected by the Russian government,
will enable us to hold on either hand the
threads of Thought which are moving the
world; and with the q trusO speedy rousing
Of British America from the torpor of her
present trading rule, and the vivifying of its
plains with the thunder of the Ocean-bound
locomotive, and with the hustle from its rising
towns and villages and opening farms; and
with the Valley Of the Mississippi joined to
that of the Saskatchewan by iron bands form
ing The pathway alike of trade, profit and
progress between us and those regions and
with the Pacific; we will have great reason
TO congratulate ourselves and thank God that
our lives have fallen in pleasant places, and
that the fullness Of the earth and not little of
the fairness thereof are likely to be ours
And in the prospect before us, of intimate
md important business relations with North
W estern British America, we should regard
with peculiar qualification that result of the
Electric Cable which, closing up the crap of
Inc Atlantic, brings England so near to us
hat practically in business matters we are
almost one country, and that by the intimate
relations Of business of every kind which it
fosters, warlikc MISUNDERSTANDING are rem
Tered almost impossible as they would be
most unwise and unnatural
1t must be apparent to you also that our
hopes in seeing British America galvanized
INTO life in the manner | have before alluded
d, depends altogether upon the perpetuity of
peace aud good will between the two coun-
tries.
| said fellow citizens Good VIII" and |
mean it. There has on the contrary been
long cultivated by both nations, much sense
less and improper prejudice and bad feeling
towards each other The Atlantic Gable
should and will inaugerate new era in this
respect. The heart bulnings left by the rev.
dictionary war should be allowed to die out,
My ancestors fought on the side of indepen-
dance in that war; but they are dead and the
they fought against with success
are alsoin their graves. Let us bury likewise
with them all national chickering's and heredi-
tafv StrileS; and though we should ever cher
ish tie principles for which our fathers fought,
and deeply honor their memory, the new rel
atoms Of the world demand that we should
no longer encourage enmity against people
with whom d" to the ties of common blood,
language and religion, to the intimate associa-
ton III business and a complete sympathy on
so many subjects, is now added the faculty
OF instantaneous communication, which must
give all these tendencies to unity of feeling
between us. an intensity which they never
before possessed"
While Ex-Gov. Ramsey was speaking, a
few clouds lad crept up unnotced, from the
horizon, and now from overhead, few drops
fell on the mass of upturncd faces A little
was observable on the margin of
the sea of human beings, and some open car