The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-12-09

people, IN our own mills, and predict the
time is not very tar distant when we will
not only manufacture our own wool but
also large quantities of imported wool, and
when manufactured, export our surplus to
the other States and other countries. 1t is
to this end we should direct our energies.
The people of our State have the power to
accomplish this. predict that this is
our destiny and that it will be realized at
an earlier day than will be generally be-
lievcd.
have been calling your attention to
what we may rely upon with common pru-
dence and industry as resources of the State
in the future, but in doing this have only
intended to refer to those which are per-
manent and lasting, and perhaps should add
to them, what is known to be considerable,
and is supposed to be great-our mineral
wealth
But in addition to all this, we have posi-
ton which for local advantages is un-
equaled by any interior point upon the
face of the globe.
We are upon the cross roads leading
from the Pacific to the Atlantic, and from
our great northern lake to the Gulf of Mex
leo on the south. Neither the energy,
wisdom or wealth of the other States can
deprive us of the advantages growing out of
our local situation.
st. Anthony Falls, the highest point of
navigation from the Gulf of Mexico, has
made this the grand central State of the
Northwest, and 1 do not intend, upon an occa-
sion like this, to enter into any serious
quarrel as to whether navigation ends at
st. Paul or St. Anthony, for it may be
safely predicted that many persons within
the hearing of my voice, will live to see one
continuous city from Minneapolis and St.
Anthony to St. Paul. They will live to see
st. Anthony and Minneapolis Lowell, and
1 trust they will see st. Paul Boston !;
and when they do, their distances from each
other are so little remote, that they will
constitute one grand city, with no reason
for controversy or jealousy, unless, like poll
ticians, they shall fight for the loaves and
fishes.
Some time has been expended in speaking
of the ability of our State to support itself
and 60 on prospecting. 1t has seemed to me
not inappropriate at this time to refer to
this subject.
1t is time when storm of adversely is
beating upon US, that makes the strongest
hearts quail before it, and anxious faces ap-
pear everywhere in our streets, desiring to
know if ever it is to cease. The problem is a
simple one. The God of Nature has fixed
our destiny, but for aught know, has given
us power to change it. We have only to
be true to ourselves, and carry out those
rules and principles, which common sense
dictates, and brighter sun will rise upon
our fortunes than Minnesota has ever seen.
1t is day of financial embarrassment,
but we have not lost our all. It is true we
have lost much of our vanity, much of our
extravaganza, much of strange reckless
ness in all branches of business and in re-
turn, we find in their places good degree
of respect for the common avocations of
life, and a general disposition to patronize
industry and economy. leave you to strike
the balance, and say whether we have lost
or gained.
think, my friends, that however serious
our embarrassments may be, we are now for
the first time commencing upon a reasona-
BILE and permanent foundation, and that the
balance of our loss and gain is entirely in
our favor. l come to the conclusion on the
whole, that taking our geographical position
into consideration, we have resources which
must make our State, not the greatest, but
one among the great, popuIous, wealthy and
powerful States of the Union.
At the commencement of these remarks, I
admitted incidentally, that there had been
some change in public opinion, as to whether
agricultural pursuits could be made more
profitable and followed more successfully by
experience, investigation and science. But
this subject is one of such Importance that
it commends itself to the serious considera-
ton of our whole State and our whole coun-
try. 1t has been thoroughly demonstrated
that education and scientific knowledge af-
fords as many advantages in agricultural
pursuits as in any other branch Of business
1t teaches investigation, and how to investi-
gate. 1t teaches, or would teach, the farmer
how to observe, to compare, to analyze, and
enable him each year to draw rational con-
clusions from his experience, and to improve
upon the part. 1t would enhance his happi-
ness and pleasure in his daily labor, for it is
needful that the mental, as well as the phys
ical powers, should be exercised, to fill up
the measure of mans happiness which must
have been intended by his maker The
most learned and most refined intelIects of
which we have any account, have spent
large portions of a lifetime and apparently
in perfect pleasure, in cultivating and i'm.
proving the products of the earth. Such
men look upon the success of their expert
ments and labor, as the fond parent looks
upon each new idea of darling child.
Some new development is constantly appear
ing, and almost every day there is food for
stimulating new hopes for the future, and
charging pride which is instinctively felt
to be manly and noble.
Reverence for our fathers is commendable;
respect for old age is duty; a good degree
of confidence in the past is not always an
unsafe guide for the future, and almost eve
ry intelligent man fully responds to these
sentiments. n,
But it does not follow that mankind may
not go on from age to age improving. 1t is
we'll known that new facts and new ideas
are being continually added to the general
fund of human. knowledge, and if SO, there is
no reason why our respect for the past
should obliterate them, or neglect them
Steamboats,, railroads, and the electric tele-
graph are new ideas-they are creating q
rpvOlutinn IN tho hucinpcs ,of tho oorth