St. Paul daily globe., 1893-04-30

board of trade of the spirit and of the
proceedings of that gathering. AL
though at a greater distance from the
Canadian line than some of the COM
munltieS north of us, l presume more of
our citizens, in proportion to our pop
ulation, have an interest in the queS-
tionS which will be considered by such
a convention than In any other munich
pality ID our state.
"Quite large amount of manufac-
tured goods from this city passes over
into Canada and is sold there. Again,
many of our grain men are practically
interested in this question of reciproc-
ity. Mr.. ONeill. of this city, who
handles almost the entire barley product
of this country west of the Mississippi
river. was one of our delegates to the
Grand Forks convention and is greatly
ciprocal trade with Canada.
Minnesota Wi tally Interested.
"Now | mention all this to show our
interest in these questions and in the
coming convention, and to ask if there
is anything that we can do here to aid
in making it success, and in making
the vast interests of the Northwest felt
in these important questions. At
present our state is more vitality in
terested than any other. The boundary
between Minnesota and the British pos
sessions north of US, now rapidly de-
veloping, is mere artificial line, over
which the citizens of each nation pass
and repaSs without scarcely noticing
where the one begins and the other
ends. In the states east of US border
ing on the Dominion there are natural
marked boundaries, that to some extent
diminish the facilities of international
commerce.
II write you this tosknow whether we
can do anything to aid in the coming
convention. OF course we shall send
delegates, but if anything else is needed
please let me know
AS was related to GLOBE reporter
by Mr.. McGinniS yesterday, at the time
of the Grand Forks convention, that so
much has been SAID and written about,
the question of reciprocity was not only
very problematical, but entirely expert
mental in its scientific elements. 1t
was the first event of the kind ever
held, and the state of Minnesota and
her patriotic and progressive citizens
conceived it. To be specific, it was eX
perimental in the sense that no one
really had an adequate or reliable con-
ception of jdst how much interest the
citizens of both nations would manifest.
The phase of experiment has been
passed. 1t is no longer matter or
doubt in the minds of those who have
been most actively engaged In the work
of bringing about the desired relief for
the people of both countries.
Since that memorable convention, let
tiers have been received from prominent
citizens all over the Northwest, includ-
ing especially Montana and Washing
ton, expressing hearty and enthu-
siaStic sympathy with the movement.
The press of all the leading cities from
st. Paul to the Pacific coast TEEN with
like sentiments Moreover, letters of
regret have been received from all sec
tiOns of the territory indicated because
circulars of invitation were not re-
ceived by them to attend the Grand
Forks convention. This places more
than an ordinarily hopeful aspect upon
the project that is now ia hand.
The West Aroused.
E. Y. SmaIley, who has recently been
spending vacation in the West, states
that he bdS often been approached on
the subject. He says that the most en-
terpr:sing citizens seem thoroughly
alive to the importance OF abollshlng
the high protective tariff that now
hampers commercial relations between
these two nations that are only sepa-
rated by ali imaginary line. 1t may be of
interest to relate that many American
citizens have, of recent years, taken up
residences in New Westminster and
Victoria. The people, it is consequently
natural. of the two countries on either
side of the Puget sound feel deep in
terest Ill the proposed revolution of the
present system of revenue. They real
ize most acutely that the tariff is un-
friendly to tlPe material welfare of both
countries, and they are not slow to eX-
press their opinions. 1t is live ques