The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-06

for few years past. In talking of our for
eign policy and its effect upon prices in gen.
eral do not wish to underestimate the good
effects which will arise from the new Ding
ley tariff bill, which, l believe, will, to a
great extent, bring much better times.
Neither do l want to underestimate the ef-
fects of a bankruptcy bill such as Senators
Nelson and Davis are working for These will
all be for the better, but there Is another
question of vast Importance to every man in
this country, and that question l will discuss
tonight.
I'VE need more, think, perhaps than any
thing else, new markets for those things
which we have more than enough for our
own wants. Prominent among these l will
mention corn, pork, cotton and wheat. How
to get these markets then is the question.
In former years practically all the wheat
raised in the world, with the exception of that
consumed at home, has gone to Liverpool
to be shipped from there to other points.
Our export wheat has all gone there. That
grown nearest the Pacific coast has gone by
the way of Cape Horn, but all Of it has
hnaily landed in Liverpool. So with the
other articles mentioned.
I'VE have in Minnesota one of the great
est minds in America. 1 refer to James j..
HILL president of the Great Northern railroad.
In his mind five years ago was conceived a
plan which when consummated would bring
to US the required new markets In 1892 Mr..
Hill sent to China and japan Dr.. Rosen-
thai whose duty was to study the POSSIBLE
tiles of trade with those countries. Since that
time Mr.. Hill has done all in his power to
increase trade between these countries and
the United States, and the fact that he was
working along the proper line has already
been plainly shown. The war between China
and Japan came as a second to the efforts of
MI. Hill, and was most fortunate thing
for us.
1.-The victory gained by Japan has opened
the way for dollar wheat. 1t has resulted in
the greatest advancement of trade ever known
IN the world, and so far as it affects the
United States it was done in this way. The
Japanese Steamship company the largest own
ers OF vessels in that country, when the war
broke out were compelled to surrender their
boats to the government for naval service.
The result was that they built many other
boats to care for their commercial trade
and when the war was over found themselves
with about twice as many boats as they
previously had
These were all pressed into commercial
service, and in this connection a line was
established between Japan and the Pacific
coast of America The first boat was run
last September and through the competition
thus aroused the rate on flour dropped from
that OF the last crop of wheat raised in the
United States 5000 900 bushels were shipped
across the Pacific ocean. This had the eff
feet of raising the price of wheat in the
Paclhc coast states to 70 cents. The increase
received by the Minnesota and Dakota faI m
ers was also, | believe, due to this cause.
we nave tributary to us by water 235, 600 =
OO0 people, who heretofore have not used
wheat. The fact that we have already got a
foothold among those people should spur us
on TO greater efforts. By taking the proper
0cOPo We Can educate them 10 the use OF our
wheat and thus establish a new market hith-
erto unknown to any embarrassing country
IN the world. So 1t will be with our cotton.
For the same reasons that we last year
shipped 2SOO0,O0O bushels of wheat across the
Pacific we will this year ship to Japan so 900
bales of our cotton, which otherwise would
have gone via Liverpool transported by
English steamship lines. This cotton will
come through Minneapolis and will be car
RED by our Western railroads to the steamers
waiting to convey it to the newly found mar
ket 1t is the same with out STEEL wire nails
and hundreds Of other articles l might men,
ton.
The greatest reason, however, for the es-
tablishment of trade relations with these
countries lies in the fact that if such is not
done, IN case of war we would be completely
tied up We would be at the mercy of
England. subject to her whims and wishes.
AS patriotic citizens you may perhaps criti-
else me for making such a statement, but /
tell you gentlemen, what say is absolutely
true, nevertheless On this map an English
make, by the way, you will notice the manner
in which England has secured control Of the
Atlantic ocean. She has fortified coaling sia-
lions all about us; two the coast of
Mexico, one in the Bermudas, two at what
Will be the mouth of the Nicaragua canal,
one at Trinidad and others. arranged so that
they have completely surrounded These
lines referring again to the map represent
the British steamship lines, which you will
see practically control the Atlantic. In case
OF war now would we therefore continue in
our commercial pursuits on the waters Of
the Atlantic? l think you will agree with
me that it would be well-nigh impossible.
What then must we do? Some say build
! the Nicaragua canal, but would such an I'M
dertaking aid us any. At the mouth of the
proposed canal, as stated above, England has
two fortified coaling stations, and in the
event of the construction of the canal would
have an interest therein. Would that, there
fore, put us in any better shape, speaking
from a commercial standpoint. l think not.
What we should do is to buy from the Nicara-
a tract and build
canal of our own and with our own money.
Fortify it at either end, and make it as much
coast line as are the lakes to the north of
US. When in peace prepare for war.
THE contamination of such an undertaking
would be the first step which would finally
make the Pacific ocean to the United States
what the Atlantic is to England. We should
then have stations along our own coast. We
should have the Hawaiian Islands, which we
would have had if Grover Cleveland had not
closed his mouth tight that he could get
nothing in it. The Aleutian islands should
also be brought into use. and the coast OF
Alaska should also be utilized. With stations
established at all of these points the United
States would be in a position to protect her
trade interests in the Pacific. and make that
great highway the means of bringing pros
perity to the American people by establishing
new markets, to which our products would be
taken by American lines and which the
| brokers of Liverpool and the English steam
ship owners would receive no profit, and fer
which the American farmer and manufacturer
would receive a higher price"
At the conclusion of Mr.. Goodnows address
Frank Gryla. who spent nine months in the
Aleutian islands for the United States gov
eminent, and who also spent considerable
time in Alaska and the United States pos
sessions in the north, told Of the advantages
to be derived from closer connection with
those countries. and of the millions of wealth
hidden away there.
At the conclusion of the meeting vote of
thanks was rendered Mr.. Goodnow for his
| entertaining and instructive address.