The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1902-05-08
A United North
America.

Paper Read Before the Chautauqua Circle.
FOLLOWING the growth of the
X United States from the limited
area of the original thirteen
states to its present three and
one-half million square miles of terri
tory, and the history of our acquisition
OF Florida, Louisiana, Texas and Alaska
is extremely interesting, owing to the
vast territories involved and the i'm
mense influence the acquired territory
has had upon the growth and prosperity
of our country. Every move in the
way of expansion has proven beneficial
beyond measure. / will say nothing
about the Philippines, as weare holding
them in way that suggests the story
of the man who cried for some one to
help him let go.
After studying the why's and where
fores of the transactions that had to do
with giving the United States its pres
ent appearance on the map, the
thoughts of the student naturally drift
into a dream of the future and we
wonder if some day the sun will rise on
a United North America, when the
flags of Great Britain and Mexico will
be peacefully folded away as keepsakes
and Old Glory with innumerable new
stars will be saiuted north of the 4oth
parallel and south of the Rio Grande;
when these boundary lines will be the
dividing line of states instead of nations.
The question has been agitated more
or less, and such union of the North
American people is not an mpossibility.
In regard to Mexico l will say moth
ing at present, but will leave that part
of the question for future paper, or as
subject for some fellow member to
handle, and will confine myself to some
remarks about Canada, it's people and
politics. In comparing the Dominion
with this country one is Immediately
struck with the phenomenal growth of
the United States and the slow develop
ment of our neighbor to the
north, which joins with other British
colonies in doing homage to Edward
VII, by grace of God king of Great
Britain and Ireland. While the United
States has been going forward with
giant strides Canada has made but
pigmy steps along the way of develop
ment.
The great natural riches of Canada
remain practically in their virgin state
The lumberman's ak has hardly made
an impression on the vast forests that
shade millions of acres of Canadian
soil; it is only in late years that mining
operations have been pushed with any
vigor, and even now the work under
way is confined to but the smallest
fraction of the territory that nature
has in her most lavish mood stored with
gold and silver, iron, copper and other
metals. But the arabic land of Canada
will prove its salvation. Its rich
prairies, extending from Manitoba to
British Columbia, consist of many
thousand square miles of wheat pro-
ducing land. At present this region is
sparsely settled, but when the tide of
immigration flows that way and these
wasted acres are brought under the
discipline of the plow, they will pro-
duce the wealth to build cities, the
cities will open market for the lum-
herman, and from these cities will go
forth the capital to open up the rock
bound treasure houses of nature; and
the sight of the raw material, wrested
from the mighty hills, will induce
capital to build factories and iron
mills; Canada will awake from her
long sleep, and the hum Of industry
will be heard across the line. Then
the United States will find that new
rival, and new competitor has arisen;
and as competition in business nova
days has given birth to the corporation,
the trust and the railroad merger, so will
the merger Of the two nations seem