The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

VOL. XXXII. CLEVELAND, AUGUST 24, 1905. No. 8. ADDRESS OF LEMIEUX AT SAULT STE. MARIE Hon. Rudolph Lemieux, solicitor general of Canada, de- livered a splendid address at the semii-centennial exercises at Sault Ste. Marie in commemoration of the completion of the first canal. He said: "T need not say how proud I feel to be the guest of the American government on this, the semi-centennial celebra- tion of the construction of the Sault Ste. Marie canal, the great connecting link between the waters of Lake Supe- rior and Lake Huron. In the name of the Canadian gov- ernment, which it is my happy privilege to represent offi- cially with my distinguished friend the speaker of the senate, let me offer my sincere thanks to the members of the committee, who have so successfully organized this demonstration, and the American citizens, who have ex- tended to me such a hearty welcome. Sir, if ever there was an occasion when both Americans and Canadians should unite in the celebration of an event calculated to bring, nay, to assure, peace and harmony between the two countries, this indeed was the most fitting, the most appropriate. The great republic and the Dominion of Canada, must and will, I trust forever, in their respective sphere of influence, look for no other rivalry on this broad continent than that which is the direct outcome of the arts of peace. Here are two countries existing side by side, with the same boundary for 4,000 miles, each of them possessing about 3,000,000 square miles of territory, with railways binding them together, with watercourses of a gigantic magnitude inviting com- munication, with geographical conditions knitting them closely together, with a similarity of races, laws, religion, and to a certain degree, of popular institutions. Can it be doubted that with the good will of both and with a fair policy in matters concerning trade relations, there is not in store for them a future of such brightness as will overshadow the records of all other nations, past. or present? i "One of the great factors in the future development of both countries will be the immense resources--I should say the inexhaustible riches--in the great western land. What was practically a lone land only a few years ago, what some of the old men in the last generation knew only as a solitude, has become the granary of the world, the new field, the new promised land where millions of people have settled permanently and where the hum of industry and commerce has replaced the incessant bloody ' conflicts between Indian tribes. Sir, it has been said that there is no more potent factor of civilization than commerce. '- If" it De true, then 1 say that fitty years ago, when the American government decided to build this canal in order to stimulate the interchange of trade between the west and the east, it rendered the whole continent a most valuable service. For many years, in fact until recently, we in Canada, shared with you the advantages accruing from the canal, but as we emerged from boyhood to manhood we decided to get for our own territory what you have obtained for yours. This duality is not a sign of hostility. It is, I am pleased to say, a sign of friendly rivalry. "It has, for the present at least, brought to completion our great canal system. I need not dwell at any length on its importance. Let it be said, however, in view of the results already attained, that it is of such a comprehen- sive character that it has, and will as heretofore enable Canada to compete successfully for the transit trade of : the great western country and the development of cheap routes of communication with the principal markets of the world. It has stimulated the commercial develop- ment of the whole dominion and bound all sections to- gether in the bonds of mutual amity and interest. We in Canada believe that the expense of such improvements is insignificant compared with the direct benefits com- merce has derived from it. ; ( "We believe also that the supremacy of the carrying trade of the great west will be in the near future between. New York, Montreal -and Quebec. Nature has given those cities the advantage of position and route, and, speaking more especially for Montreal and Quebec, I can safely predict for them a foremost position amongst commercial communities. When a vessel of 13° or 14 it, draught can load at Fort William and proceed through the great lakes to Montreal or Quebec without breaking bulk and return laden with goods, transportation will be brought down to its cheapest terms. "The French had,long before the cession of Canada to England, understood the necessity of using in the in- terest of trade, the large water gtretches. Small locks for batteaux had even been constructed by them at the Cascades, the Coteau, the Long Sault, and, if I mistake not, on the Canadian side of the Sault Ste. Marie falls. As far back as 1804, these were reconstructed at larger size and in improved positions by the royal engineers, as military works. While furs were the only exports the batteau was suited to the trade in both directions, but when agricultural export commenced, grain was first