The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-28
Worlds Pathway of Commerce.

Worlds Pathway of Commerce.
The c. o b this morning begins the
publication of a series of five chapters
on the subject of the worlds pathway
OF commerce.
The worlds trade is one OF the most
interesting subjects that can attract
the attention of mankind. Out of this
great development of product and of
intercourse between different peoples
the wealth and the civilization Of the
world has been piled up. It should
rot be taken for granted however, that
the profits have all passed into the
pockets Of a few. This suggestion is
made, by the way, because so many
people fail to understand how far the
progress Of the world is due to intel
lectual genius. This is the quality
which directs labor, and it is in a very
large degree that the profits of great
enterprises are directed Immediately to
the man who works with his hands in
the transportation of articles of manu-
facture and merchandise rather than
into the pockets Of the man or men, or
combinations Of men, who render such
employment possible.
The several chapters which will ap-
pear in The G. o b e during the COM
ing week ought to be carefully read
not only by the merchant. but by the
lahorer, who has allotted to him so
great part in the worlds productive
ness. 1t will be noticed by a careful
reading of this history in abstract.
that it has been by the turning of
money values and by the concentration
of individual industries that the great
Fabric has been builded and by the
progressive spirit, or. it may be said.
the ever prevailing desire to accom-
push little more than has been ac-
conplished before, that the circuit of
the earth by the bond of commerce has
approached so nearly to completion.
But that which WILL or ought to most
positively impress the people of this
latitude is the fact that during a pc
ROD Of we will say, 1900 years the
spirit of trade has been constantly
directed to the point where the sun
went down in the twilight of the even
ing. Just why the thoughts of men
for centuries past have always tended
10 pursue this march of daylight untu
fields for enterprise. cannot be explain
ed The fact remains that out of old
Asia, from its western side through
Tyre and Sidon, through Babylon and
Nineveh, onward through the Italian
republics and Egypt, and out through
the gates of Gibraltar, ever turning to
the westward. the progress of the world
has been carried on. In all this system
of inspired research the broad ex-
panse OF fathomless waters has at no
moment deferred the splendid idea of
exploration. Out of this inspiration
came the discovery OF America by CO.
lumbus, and through this tremendous
development of the purposes of the AL
mighty our own nation came into ex-
istence. Upon the eastern shores of
this continent, religious liberty
as applied to all sects found a
resting place when driven from old
world persecution. Within a little more
than two centuries of time. by this
same dominant sentiment of right to
think according to the right that is
given by the moral instinct known as
conscience, a great scope of territory
has been traversed, until. on the shores
and the angel of religious progress
stand together as guides of civiliza-
ton to penetrate the eastern shores OF
Asia and extend to the immense pop
ulations of that country the enlight-
eminent which has accumulated
through the work of the representa-
tives of trade who began their labors
as a benishted race on the shores OF
Phoenicia 1,5O0 years ago.
The object of Christopher Columbus
In his voyage westward was to discov-
er the northwest passage to India. As
we look back upon all the exploits OF
earlier endeavor we can detect a grea,
deal of delusion in the matter of the
cry. But 1t must be remembered thai
the light of knowledge had not fallen
upon those pioneers of the fifteenth
century so fully as it has been reveal
ed to those of the nineteenth century
under the influence Of scientific dis
covery. The northwest passage was
undoubtedly a most fascinating illu-
sion TO the mariners OF the time of Co.
lumbus. 1t is remarkable, however
how truly they chung to that idea The
discovery of the Gulf Of St. Lawrencs
4SC SAptOiSAS Tic AdNSI
that name, to Lake Ontario. thence Il
Lake Erie, to Lake Huron and 10 this
conjunction of those magnificent ex-
panses of water. Lake Michigan and
Superior, at the straits. Previously
certain explorers had been led TO be-
liCve that Hudson's bay was really tn:
sea which led to an outlet TO India, but
the men who followed the courses Of
the lakes came more nearly into the
line of Proyidential guidance.
The head CT Lake Superior represent:
a point nearly half way across the con.
tinent. During the past thirty year:
the commercial world has been amazed
st the progress displayed in the out.
lining OF the true northwestern pas,
sage. Systems Of transportation hay,