The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-05-05
NAVIGATION AND FLOODS


physics of the Mississippi basin and OF oul
country by OmnlpotenI power, intrllOcheu
with the welfare OF our people ana theii
destiny IN the world aud To which ON
politics and national policies should con
form now.
Letus fully understand and keep con
stantly IN mind that the best business re-
suits in the production of iron and steel II
this interior, on these lakes and rivers, can
not possibly be won without tins nayiga-
tion. this suitable connection VIA thu
Illinois, and this reasonable clearing away
OF snags aud wrecks below. TINS uniOI
possesses no greater or more valuable store
OF ore and coal than those of the great lax,
and region. But their most economic com
blnallUn for manufacture is n physical I'M
possibility without this Improved Daviga
ton and this suitable connection VIA TIT
Illinois.
A most grand, pract cal and bcau,ltu
arrangement IL clearly written IN nature by
the Supreme Architect, as to the great lak'
and Mississippi systems, and his placit
gentle Illinois river connection. Ana I'M
line OF navigation from lake to GUT is The
very key of the citadel Of our country''
greatest resources in peace, and Of its strong
est anu SaItSL uCItISt III wal w l'ii'u
this navigation, suitably cleared aud con
nected, the most economic development o
resources, stability in business, and safe
and general prosperity Tor the people oI
this union, cannot he reached; and with
out tins, our best influence and CONNER
clal aud general benefits can, ut be ex-
tended abroad over the world at large.
We must remember that there Is but one
Mississippi basin. We must remember
that we have but one Mississippi system
one great lake system, and one Illinois
connection, and that all the cOirclative In
teres.s and connected resources are 10y ma
tuIe united or intended To be. And II can
be easily shown that the needed work
should awaken no antagonism OF interests
whatever, especially when considered, as
now 1t must be, with reference to the ques
ton Of floods as well ~ navigation, and
that the reasonable work needed can and
should be done with fullest reference 10
this unity OF interests, and wide, general
and universal benefits.
And 1t IS more than high time that the
people Of the slate and nation, statesmen,
journalists, railroad men, lake men, river
men, and everybody clse-unders,oJ this
fully and acted decisively, setting guards
against that set Of adverse influences, treach.
cry and sluggish inCapaclty that have HIN
dered, defeated, BETRAYED, misled and kept
back the practical work that IS needed, aud
that have frustrated the efforts aud sHcri-
hoes of faithful and devoted workers.
Happily the people Of ILLINOIS, by their
votes in November last for the conditional
cesslon of the Illinois and Michigan canal
IN, bn 'nifaI hay nnnpnI tho
way for the right aud full application and
fultillment of great principle IN our or
ganic national law, which illustrates the
wisdom, patriotism and foresight ct the
founders OF our government and applies 10
tins great case perfectly, justly and truly,
and that Is also in entire correspondence
with the physics Of 'our country and with
the structure OF our political institutions
and aCCOrds with all our great practical in
terests - east, west, north and sOuth-in
every good sense. ! refer to the nuviga-
ton clause In the ordinance OF 1881 which
in its most excellent spirit and true intcn-
ton | have found n sale guide from the
time of our contest in 1857 to the present
hour The Illinois Legislature and the u.
s. supreme court have assaulted il, and fear.
ful fralricidal war has ragged around l..
But thanks to The Great Ruler it IS still
valid aud IN force. lake the mountains
that wlthstood the flood, 1t stands firm; its
beneticcnt purpose Is fixed for y better flu
ture. And on IT the ark OF the safety, wei.
fare aud prosperity Of our people may yet
res, safely, while our navigation advances
to fulfill its proper part IN the grand econ.
omy Of our own country and the world and
help our people and country to fulfill their
high aud noble destiny In conformity with
their own best interests and the best utter
ests of all nations. Our business and prac
teal interests in the past have often been
betrayed aud have often suffered needless
destruction and overthrow. Great as have
been the labors and achievements OF oar
people and the resources of our country, II
is shown now by recent statistics that the
gross amount OF property IN this country
only shows, per capita, about the same AS
that IN Mexico, where great industry is not
expected, and where the wonderful appli-
ances Of art and science which we possess
are almost unknown.
This condition of affairs is due chiefly to
two causes. One is the pressure of cXjcr-
nal trans Atlantic interests acting upon all
our Affairs; the other the neglect and he
lIayhl Ol our lUihuu anu OCEAN nlNlb0llbn
and maritime affairs
De TOquevlle sad that "thC valley OF
the Mississippi il, upon the whole the
most magnificent dwelling place prepared
by God for mans abode" But when we
destroy the rivers by distractions or fail TO
clear them out and connect them suitably
with the lakes, thus rejecting the use of
our counlry's natural organs, we waste aud
mar our inheritance and prepare the way
for unprotitable effort, loss poverty, debts,
usury and ruin, AT least to the masses.
We also by this class of errors in the
public economy prepare the way for gen
eral instability IN Legitimate business and
in the whole social structure, thus lessen
ing true practical knowledge and conf
dencc IN man. Not only has this been
done in some degree, but our carrying
trade on the ocean has mostly been given
TO England. And by secret and pertidi-
Gus change in the laws, our monetary stan
dard of silver and gold was struck down,
and the English standard OF gold only was
set up for time.
Thus every existing contract was VIC
lated, every debtor was injured, vast mum
bers ruined, and only IA silent and mighty
change IN the planet We inhablt, deep in
the heart of nature, saved US from the rum
that the war almost brought. soon after
the peridluus and hidden change in the