State Convention—mutual dependence. 231 
But, financially, how about that? The answer is ready. The 
fact is, sixty-five per cent, of the population of any extensive dis¬ 
trict is too large a proportion to be profitably engaged in an}^ one 
branch of business, farming not excepted. Then what is to be 
done? Plain enough. Quit the business. Go at something that 
pays and suits better. This is a free country. Every one is en¬ 
titled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Every one has 
the right to do as he pleases, so long as he does not please to in¬ 
terfere with the rights of his neighbor. In other words, legitimate 
and honorable competition is the true remedy. 
The great trouble in the northwest, as it respects its material 
prosperity, is, we want more consumers and less producers in pro¬ 
portion. (I use the term 'producer here loosely, as applied to ag¬ 
riculture.) I do not know why this change may not be brought 
about in a way perfectly consistent with good humor and the 
kindest regard to the rights and best interests of all concerned. I 
have faith to believe it will be. 
Decent geological discoveries in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Ne¬ 
braska, Idaho, and here and there throughout the northwest, to¬ 
gether with the inexhaustible supply of water power everywhere, 
that the absence of other motive power renders desirable, are to 
my mind prophesies as well as geological and topographical facts, 
indicating that these immense and inexhaustible mines of iron, 
fields of coal and tumbling water-falls, the bones, sinews and 
muscles of mechanical industry, furnishing at once the arm that 
strikes, the motive power and the fabric wrought, were placed 
there by the great Disposer for a purpose. 
And being thus unmistakably reminded of our possibilities, I 
for one have faith to believe the hint will be seized upon by the 
indomitable energy and unflagging perseverance of the last quar¬ 
ter of the nineteenth century, that this perpetual invitation to de¬ 
velop the mechanical as well as agricultural resources of the 
country will be heeded; that we shall soon prove to the world 
that the universe has more than one hub , and that it is not neces¬ 
sary to freight bread and pork by rail two thousand miles when 
all nature invites the needed industry to consume it in the imme¬ 
diate locality where it is produced. 
I believe the time will soon come when there will not be a 
