Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-10-24

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increasing wants of mankind. the AZ ~
Creator secures the accomplishment of IL
great design Mans Eternal Progress. At
no period since the commencement of the
world have SO many important tdiscoveriesbeen'
made, as within the last dfty years. Canals
and rail roads, steamboats, and telegrsphs,
have all followed each other With wonderful
rapidity, and more wonderful results. We
all agree that DIR. Franklin was right when
be predicted that within half century frd6!
his time, it would not take more than twenty
days to carry the mail between Philadelphia
and Boston. It is now transmitted between
those points in less than twenty hours. Per-
hapsI caunot more ssrcihly 7sspress ysu with.
an idea Of modern progress than by exhibiting
to you this newspaper of past century. 1t
is called :. The Pennsylvania Gazette" bears
date the oath day of April, 1855. and pur-
ports to contain the ss Freshest Advices. For
eign and Domestic" Though published in
the city of Philadelphia, issued, as believe,
by Benjamin Franklin himself, it contrasts
poorly with the most ordinary country paper
of our day Among the g freshest foreign
advces'' find in this old paper. are those da-
ting back to December. 1854 it thus requi-
ring at that time four months to convey iutel-
ligence, which is now brought to our doors in
ten days Here, too, you find negroes offered
at public sale IN Market street, in the city of
Philadelphia. while now the whole State is
agitated at the Imprisonment of Passmore
Williamson, for the rescue of few servants
of passing traveller Such are some of the
startling changes going on around US. q Tenn
poru n,utdntau, ct nos mutamur cum ills.
The rich treasures of Science are daily
thrown at our feet. By her disclosures, we
are enabled to interrogate all nature and learn
her secrets. By means of the telescope we
walk among the stars. Geology has enabled
us to penetrate the bowls of the earth, and
drag from it its hitherto unknown treasures
The Astronomer in his study, by means of
his arithmetical science, demonstrates the ex-
istence of another world never yet seen by
mortal eye, and then discovers in that part of
space indicated by this conclusion, this new
planet, justly named La Eerrier, wheeling its
silent rounds. Steam has almost annihiiated
Timcsand Space. The lightning leaps from
the clouds to bear our messages, and soon old
Ocean will wear beneath his waves, girdle
of fire!
Prolific as is the theme, it is not my inten-
ton to dwell on the amazing progress of sci
entifc research and discovery in our own day.
This has so frequently, and so recently too,
been dwelt upon by others in addresses of this
kind. that for me to say anything more upon
it, might look too much like % treading in the
footsteps of nv illustrious predecessors.
The dignity and Importance of agriculture
have been often dwelt upon. Distributing
the people of the world into classes, represen-
ting their respective pursuits, agriculture
presents sevcn-eighths, while all others COM
bined represent but one-eighth of the whole.
As means of creating natural and individual
wealth, therefore, agriculture is infinitely
greater than all others together. Since it
alone supplies food and raiment for all, the
very existence Of civilized communities is de-
pendent upon its products. The soil is our
common mother from whose bountiful breast
we derive our subsistence. Agriculture is the
basis of all other industrial interests. As an
art, the Oldest of the arts-it is the sustaining
mother of all the arts. AS science, il
claims the homage and invokcs the aid, while
it is the support of all the sciences. The
thousands of manufactures spread over our
land, the smoke of which darkens the air, and
which afford employment to SO great num-
Der of our population, are necessarily employ.
ing in changing the form of the products ot
agriculture, and in supplying it with imple-
ments and tools. The commerce which viii.
tens every ocean, is but engaged as carrier
steschange the place of agricultural products
by distributing the fruits of different climate.
OF localities of civilized life. Without agri
culture, commerce and manufactures, with al
their important and ever increasing interests
never could have existed. Without it, edu
cation, arts. sciences, refinement. mental ant
moral improvement, would soon languish an,
die Without it, civilization would be un
known, and men be reduced to savage life
prowling through the dark forests, like beast
Of prey, seeking an uncertain subsistence il
the spoils of the chase.
The truth of all this will be at once ad
mitted. Is it not then strange that the sci
ence Of agriculture for long period did no
keep pace with the other sciences. and in fact