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Show A NORTHERN REPUBLIC. A sage lived in the West once who, in thought, always seemed to be like Gilpin of Colorado, living liv-ing fifty years ahead of his generation. He deplored de-plored the surrender made by our country after It had raised its slogan of "54-40 or fight," and still more the refusal to accept British Columbia in lieu of the Geneva award. He had a map of North America hanging on the Avail of his office, and was Avont to spring up, seize his Avalking stride and, going to the map, draAV the end of his cane around a mighty area of the Dominlnon in the Northwest, and then discourse as foloAvs: "Not a great many years hence our country avIH cease to export wheat; the home production will be needed for the home millions. The Pacific has already been reached, railroads are pushing to the West, population popu-lation is Increasing In arithmetical, almost geometrical, geo-metrical, progression; the public lands are swiftly being absorbed; manufactues are increasing at an unprecedented pace; it will not be long until our OAvn people avIH need all our own bread." But Avhen that time coms there will be no scarcity. Here (pointing his cane over British Columbia) are unlimited virgin fields, the bread-producers for a continent, room for millions of homes, where climate, soil, everything will be in accord for the creation of a great race of men and women." Tt looks as though this prophecy was entering upon fulfillment. Already fifty thousand Americans Ameri-cans have pushed Into that country and the inflow in-flow is steadily increasing. There are tens of millions of acres as level as a floor and where a an wl. is young and a worker can buy 160 acres nd at the regulation price of $G per acre, and Avith the first crop realize enough to pay for the land and all the expenses of the crop. There is a continental divide AVhich runs east and Avest about on the line which sepaates the United States and British Columbia and the land to the north falls off rapidly to about the altitude of Eastern Kansas and Nebraska; there is plenty of rain, no irrigation is needed. Besides, the prairie, there is timber to supply the world for generations. Then farmers there can get 10 cents per bushel more for their wheat than can the farmers on this side of the line for the railroads are held under such restriction as makes this possible. pos-sible. Then life and property are safer there than on this side, for the Government there, if not al together of and by the people, is certainly for the people. Crimes are very few because of the certainty cer-tainty of punishment. Those best posted believe that the plan for a great republic has been laid out there and that it is SAvIftly being caried out. Not a plan for annexation to the United States, but to draAV away from Great Britain and to launch a Northern Republic Avhere liberty under laAV Avill supplement everything good in our own country and reject all that is weak or bad in our OAvn system. |
