The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-04-22


demonstrate this fact; but leave that to others
who may choose 20 complete the argument. II
is enough to say here, this head, that the con.
venience, interests and grandeur of Illinois re.
luire that passage for ships, as well as for
smaller vessels, should be opened up along the
Illinois river, and through the Illinois and Mich.
igan canal from the Mississippi to the lakes, and
at as early a period as shall be practicable and
consist ant with the financial condition of the
state.
The safety too, of Illinois and all of her sister
states bordering upon the whole range of the
lakes, requires it, in maritime and military
point of view. Great Britain holds eight prov.
inces in North America, extending from the At.
lantic to the Pacific, and bounding the territory
of the United States on the north Two of these
provinces, upper and lower Canada, abut against
the United States from Maine to Wisconsin in.
elusive. The coterminous Canadian frontier for
its whole length is fortified by Gordon of mill.
tary posts, and canals Of the largest size have
been cut, connecting the waters oil the ST. Law.
renee with the northwestern lakes-thus open
ing and exposing our whole lake coast for the
distance of 5000 miles to the possible aggres.
sions Of the land and naval armaMents Of Great
Britain now, or which may be made available in
that Quarter. What happened in the war of
1912, might happen or be attempted again. Dur.
ing that war Oswego was bombarded, Buffalo
duced. To prevent the recurrence of such a
calamity and disgrace we need 10 be placed At
least upon an equality with Great Britain in
respect to the facilities Tor aggressive and defan-
sive operations. To this end ship NAVIGATION
should be opened frsm the lakes to the Mississip.
pi. This precaution would serve as a counter
poise in some degree, to her Rldeau and Vel.
land canals, both OF which are ship canals-oue
passing around the rapids Of the st. Lawrence.
he MI ba all of
through which one.half Of the whole British
navy might be turned into lakes Erie and Onta-
RIO, to lombard and destroy the cities, towns and
rural habItations upon their shores. Without
such precaution we must remain at disadvan-
tage with her, for it is no answer to say that we
are stronger on land than she could make herself
upon our own soil for whatever our superiority
in this respect it would not avail as an etfectual
defense against the guns of her ships, riding and
tacklngs at Will upon the plant bosom of the
lakes.
If, as the consequence of the Alabama question
or the fishery question, another war should occur
with England, what, with the lakes blocked by
hostile fleet and the sea communication be-
tween our eastern Atlantic cities and the mouth
of the Mississippi menaced by the British war
cruisers, would be our dilemma? 1t might not
he so bad As il was in the war Of 1872 VIZ
British marines not only ravaged our lake coast
national capital but it might still be deplorable
Lieutenant Maury, in an official report, sub.
mitsed by him to the war department. upon the
project of naval depot and dock yard on the
Mississippi, particularly emphasizes ship COM
munication between the Mississippi and the
lakes as an essential measure of military defense
He says that such a communication in militia
~ point of view, would be the best defense and
strongest fertilization tina, be erected for the
lakes.
The wisdom of such measure in a pecunisry
sense, is capable of easy and certain demonstra-
ton. We need only to consult our own painful
experience to be completely convinced it,
During the war of 1912, an expensive navy
WAS built upon the lakes, which, after peace was
| restored, was dismantled aud left there TO rot
for it could not be brought out to sea, where. if
| it could have been made available It would have
| answered the purpose Of other vessels which
cost large expenditure of public money: or it
might have been sold for sum sufficient to open
ship communication between the Mississippi
and the lakes In the absence of this, or some
such outlet, the country, should it eyer 20 to
war again with England, must support two ma
vies-one Tor fresh water, the other for salt wa
ter; and must again accept the waste and loss
OF the former in a more aggravated and expens-
i've foriu. Doubtless the mastery of the lakes
must depend upon the facilities of throwing
forces and supplies upon them, and those facili.
ties at present are greater on the part of Eng
land than with US and al, owing to her larger
canals. The existence Of such an outlet during
the late rebellion would have saved 10 the Unit
ed States. in the additional and cheaper facility
it would have afforded for the transfer of troops
and munitions of war from the east TO the west
and thence south, and in turn back again, &C.
cordlng to the eXgencies of the war, larger
sum of money than it would have cost to have
made it.
For these reasons, briefly and hastily expressed
and for others, which might be offered, | am
now, AS | have been for quarter of century
in favor of the ship communication mentioned
JOHN A. MCCLERSAND.
1t has been discovered and has now become an
absolute fact, that the art of preventing and cur.
ing disease consists in the use of remedies which
ward Oft or remove any agent which in its effect
does, or tends to deprive any of the organs or
tissues OF the living body of their vitality: and
that the remedial means used 10 accomplish this
object must be such and such only, ms sustain
the weakened, or increase the reduced vital
action of any of the organs or tissues. This is
the doctrine of common sense and experience.
But thi. cannot be accomplished by the use of
Anthony, Hellobere, Strychnia or Arsenic,
which are the basis Of nearly all horse and cattle
preparations.
The Equine Remedies" now so universally
used. contain none of these poisons, are purely
vegetable, sanative, safe and reliable.
Every package of these remedies bears the
certificate of the late DR.. Geo, II. Dadd, who
used them in his extensive practice.
For sale by Il. Y. Gricss
A Niger KILLED by A Hoe We learn that
negro was killed short time ago between
N. IA.