Our State

Conccniinir the celebratiion of thesemicciitennial of Michigan the Intcr Ocean ald editorially : Au interesting comparisou might be made betwecn slavery and f reedom in the ases of Arkansas and Michigan for the ast iifty ycars. The Upper Península, accepted undcr protest, bus made Mlchioan the iirst in lumber, copper, charcoal, )ig-iron and fresli-water fisheries, wlth lie largest fresh-water sea-board in the world.'and the state is not excelled probbly by'any in the union in the producion of salt and iron ore, nor as a freshvater marine state. In 18Ü5 it liad a "free white population " of Ö7,'273, while in 1880 ts inhabitahts nunibered one and threeluaiters millions. The growth and prosrity of the state have been like everyhing else caryed out by the great oriliïance of 1787. As a fruit state it riyals its nost productivo competitors soutb of Manu and Dixou's line. In brief, all of Hlchigan's producís are staples. In eduation, public charities, religious benevoences, and reform movements it takes ii},rh rank. The tiftieth anniversary of its dvance to statehood is, therefore, au vent of interest not merely to itsown resdents but alsoto every state in the northvest.