Red Wing sentinel., 1859-12-10
LECTURE OF HON. JAMES w. TAY.
1920 '... d. I.OK. ..... .r,

! Hon. James w. Taylor Of St. Paul, I'd
dressed our citizens on Monday evening on
"Minnesota-presen and future"
The Introductory topic of the lecture was
geographical argument to show that north
west British America, and those portions Of
the American Territory due West from
Minnesota, constituted great continental
mass, similar in physical respects to England,
Prussia, Germany, NORWAY, Sweden and
European Russia, and destined to . vast
production and development. Minnesota
was therefore not frontier State. Tho
limits OF navigation on Lake Superior and
the Mississippi were merely q threshold 20
the valleys Of the Red River Of the North,
and the Saskatchewan, which might be styled
Central British America. This interior re.
gion. was closely related to Minnesota--its
most natural channel Of communication to
market was through this State, and the ma.
terra! question in the present discussion was.
how soon it will be organized by England,
as province ? With such an organization
important conse luences Of Minnesota policv
were connected. We have no space to fol-
low the speaker in his delineatons of the
Northern Temperate zone, and Lieut.. Maury's
division ofi1 into two thermal bands. Our
situation as q State was shown to be cen.
trail to the northern OF these bands, in which
is comprised the aggregate Of industrial &C.
tivity and political power on all the CONT
nents. Through this Northern band Mr..
Taylor also traced the great lines of rail and
telegraphic connection, now in operation or
likely to be constructed. Tracing these to
Moscow, in Europe, the speaker digrcssed
into minute discussion of the present policy
Of the Russian Emperor for opening a COM
n.unication with the Asiatic coast through
Southern Siberia.
His conclusion was, that BY the acquisition
from China Of the Amoor valley, Russia
challenged the commercial Supremacy Of
the North Pacific. Previously Southern
Siberia, had wonderfully advanced in wealth
and population, with q great postal route
from Moscow to lrkoutsk, along which two
hundred towns and cities had sprung up.
within fifty years. The present Emperor
Alexander, had now linked Southern S,be.
ria with its four millions Of intelligent and
|enterprising citizens, to the coast of the
Japanese sea, forcing his frontier, even to the
wall of China.
England had taken the alarm, and by the
organization of British Columbia, indicated
a design to be prepared for the impending
struggle for influence and trade on tho North
Pacific. Simultaneously with the founda.
tion Of this New Pacific colony, the Queen
Of England announced in speech from the
throne purpose to establish an uninterrunt.
led series Of colonies across the American
continent. .9I
Saskatchewan, or the region between
Lake Superior and the Rocky Mountains
was the only link now necessary to be sup
piled. Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, when
Colonial Secretary, had prepared bill for
the organization o. such province, and it
only failed to become law by last springs
change Of Ministry. It might he presented
this winter by the Duke Of Newcastle, Sir
Edwards successor. The importance Of
such measure to tho railway system of
Minnesota and all our material interests is
palpable.
Mr.. Taylor, thea entered upona narrative
|of = summers trip to the Red River set.
tlemcnt. His description of Selkirk con-
6rmed the statement. that in soil, climate.
and means Of inland navigatinn, the Red
river navigation, the Red river valley. is full.
~ equal to Minnesota. It is destined to
produce wheat and other grains, to great
advantage. Some inforn,ation obtained at
Se'kirk, upoa the probability OF speedy
colonial organization, was also repeated.-
The characteristics Of the English and Scotch
population, IS sketched by the lecturer, gave
ample assurance that colony would or.
garize and be conducted under favorable
auspices.
The political portion Of the lecture next
followed. 1t was repetition Of the views
expressed last May at meeting in Winona.
and reported At length in The DEMocRAT.
Mr.. Taylor insists that an international
compact sho'd now be entered into between
England and tho United States, extending
Reciprocal Trade to the Pacific, and in 9th
er respects securing commercial identity
Of interests. With this boon to the North.
ern frontier, he also advocated IN American
protectorate over Mexico, with . view to
the security Of life and property in that di-
rection.
The opinion was expressed that BY com
bination with English policy Northwest.
and English interests that the prosecution of|
the Minnesota railroads might be resumed
especially if the Legislation this winter was
guided BY patriotic, not merely BY personal
Or party impulses. The details of legislation
on this subject could not now be anticipated
nor would it be Iecorens to do so.-
The majority was entitled to the best e.
operation Of every citizen, and for one, the
speaker was confident that the honor Of
the State would be maintained inviolate.
ami satisfactory means of resumine the
public works Of the State could be ascertain.
ed. II 80, it KSs Of the utmost in,ortance