The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-01-27

hVOrabie nAtufSi con1itiOns. E'sp oWsVn
under the great Guravus became one Of tho
foremost powers Of Europe; and Esgknd,
by steadily making the most OF Der geo
graphical and political position, TO widen
the area Of her commercial domination, has
become the most powerful a. well as the
richest Empire Of modern times. In our
own Confederation, those States have I'D.
vapced mort rapidly 10 wealth. and popula-
ton, and influence which instead Of de.
pending on their own immediate resources
for their prosperity, have made il the chief
aim Of their several plans Of internal develop
mcnt, 10 extract the almost from their geo
graphical relation TO other States
New York by her cosily and magnificent
system Of Railroads and Canals a per.
sistent aud enterprlsing policy OF external
aggrandizemsDt-- apparently rash at the out
set always triumphant in the sequel has
passed far ahead OF the more cautious and
conservative SEA. board States which entered
upon the race OF competition with prospects
even faIrer than her own-apd has achieved
the proud prominence among her Atlantic
sisters of the Empire STATE" The history
Of Illinois illustrates the same principle, and
generally it will be- seen that in proportion
a. States have left their own resources 10
take cafe Of themselves, nSi made the most
| Of the resources of their neigbbors, tina, their
iatsrnal condition has improved. Il is not
within the circumference Of its narrow rird
that the secret Of the trees luxuriance is con
tanned il IL IN the root whose intricate net.
work stretches far into the depths Of the for.
est. and gathers strength and grandeur from
the SAME soil which supports its rivals.
Minnesota ia rich IN soil lumber aud min
erals attractive IN climate and in natural
tea,ures- and by IL sedulous husbandry OF
thesc elements alone, it is not 10 be doubted
that, IN time. by strict economy and pers,-
/ versncc. the third State in the onion
/ IN territorial extent, might become
,h thirty third in wealth and inHu.
ence. But these are not the vital resources
Of Minnesota. They are merely the ped's-
tai Of her future greatness the scafioiding
by which she 10 To reach, the instruments by
which she Is to accomplish, her destiny.
The Minnesota Valley and the Upper
Mississippi, and the Blue Earth and the
Iumbro, are worth cultivatiug indeed for
their own sake--but no scheme for develop
ing those can be profitable 10 the State at
large or to the particular sections for whose
benefit il is chiefly Designed except ns it is
n part OF and subordinate to u grand scheme
Of continental intercommuDication. The
railroad lines in progress in Minnesota.
have their chief value not in the inmediat.
facilities they will afford for local inter.
course nor in the stimulus they viii give
60 settlement and industry on the eoa,gu.
Gus sois bu. in what they will ultimately
| bring to us from abroad and the direction
towards the fertile basin. OF the Northwest,
which our legislators have given to these
lines invests them with the prophetic sig
nliicauce of index fingers pointing US Ia the
/ future which beckons us from the shores Of
the Pacific.
Nothing needs to be- more thoroughly
impressed gu the minds Of the people of Min
neso,a. than that her chl,i resource ia in her
geographical position that thu roots Of our
future greatness are IN those immense rivers
which lnterlock in our soil-tha, cur posi-
ton is local Ia all the coavergiug lines OF
in,eroccanic commuuiea ion that We have
il in our power 10 buckle with q brooch of
/ steel upon our breast the golden c,Stns OF
the welded occans 10 make halfway
house here for the trade aud commerce OF
the round World AMI yet, with such
destiny ~ this towering over us, soliciting,
even imploriug u by all the logic Of IA
,ure. aad The ,loqaenor OF cyents-a destiny
which bends towards ~ from all quarters
Of heaven and earth, aud which embraces vs.
on nil sidcs--with all this 10 exalt the
range OF our ambition. people, small people,
arr taking about taxes, anj squabnling
about branches and grades. 10 seize this
destiny to make the NOS of our g,ograph
ical position, the Intelligence and public
spirit OF the community mus, bc organized
ip a turouu cf go,e;ga G9aU., which, lcav.
ing the lite local qnarris ard little PER.
sona auimosi,,,s Of h,ilr men 10 take care
Of themselves. shall cut path ior M,pneso-
Ia to the heart Of the national counc. and
install mr. 10 the commanding position
among the Mississippi States, which nature
has allotted her The whole future at Ma
ncsota turns upon one question, that ct u