The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1855-11-07
ADDRESS

ADDRESS p
OrJ. NJ. ESTEP, ESQ, DELtvERED BEFORE
THE HARRrsos CoUNTY AaRIcULTuRAL So
c1ErY. ocr., II, 1885,. puBLIsHED BY Re
QUEST on THE Society. Z
Mr. Peesidsnt; Ladies and Gentlemen,
you have besn pleased 70 invite me to ad
dress on on the important subject OF Agri-
culture. Sensible Of my incompetency to
do Justice 70 The subject, It was with ex,
treme reluctance that accepted the in
yitation. Iregret that you have not pro-
cured more experienced speaker--one ca
pable of presenting the subjectto you ina
Iioht commensurate with its dignity and im-
nortance. Rut it has been Otherwise
Having had but short time for preparation.
| I am compelled to throw myself upon your
kindness and generosity, with the hoFe
that you will overlook the imperfections o.
mY address, which can only promise shall
have one mark of merit,-brevity; for it is
said, 'Brevity is the soul Of wit"
We have assembled here today to ad-
vance the interests and witness the produo-
tions Of agricalture--the most ancient and
honorable occupation Of man-the basis OF
all other arts--the 6rst step from safage to
civilized life. And surely we could meet
for no more worthy purpose. The earth
belongs to man by the highest title; for tc
him was given dominion over oil the
earth" But of little value would this ssher
itaoe be to him without labor--unceasing
labor: for since the "fall," it is decreed,
that, s'in the sweat Of thy brow shalt thou
est bread" It is therefore, Of the greatest
importance that his labor should be proper
lly applied. In the beginning, indeed. wa
Ibis lot one Of sorrow and gloom. lie hat
The TITLE of Monarch but his subjects were
all in open rebellion against his will, and b
knew not where to look for assistance. Thu
q poisonous reptiles Kissed, and the savag'
animals growled defiance. The lightning
of fheayen was constant source ct terror
% and alarm. And even our kind moth,
earth, too under his ignorant culture, refu
sed to reward his labor-yielding him no
thing but ''thorns and thistles.' the bite
fruit Of his disobedience. But how ditferer
Is his present situation? It is true that b
must still labor, but his labors are now q
bundantly blessed. At his command, th
earth brings forth her grains. her frult'
and her fowers--everything pleasing to th
sight, or pleasant to the taste. The an
NAL kingdom, instead Of being a terror,
now great source Of profit. pleasure az
!, enjoyment, By his energy, skill and PEI
ssverence, he has subdued, and compell'
5 them to become ministenng servants, TO
sist him in bis labors. and contribute to b
pleasures. His enterprising spirit, sprln
4 ing from the earth to the skies. grasp
and rendered harmless the felce lightning
S and they have now become his kindly m'
sengers of thought, by which be sommu'
. Gates with his friends, Ia the most dista
i parts Of the earth, with the velocity
light, rs-. gasa. ssE s.i " .g...
Is What has enabled him thus to ameli
rate his sad condition? The arts and scie
' ses have Illuminated his dark path. IT
10 have substituted strength for his weakrs
IL courage for bis fear. Through their inl
IN ence he has been enabled to Ia ne the ant
e elements, and subdue his insubordin
subjects. And through the influence
DO scientific agriculture, he has caused
rs earth to "blOssom and bloom as the ros
80 What has been the influence Of agric
= = ture, in ages thct are past upon natio
~ character and national greatnessg M
90 All history clearly establishes the +
that those nations which attained u
20 high degree of wealth, power, ard civil
i, Ition, we're nations in which agriculture Il
\. II ished. The Egyptians, the Greeks and
ri Romans were IL one time On agricult
\ !. people, and then they were great. psesf
M Ious, ana powerful They neglected .
" Icuitare and Immediately fell into weahI
/ II ! land insignihcance. The African. the A
!. and the Indian, have always neglected
/. land they have always been weak, pusi
y, savage. or half civilized nations. G.
~ Mexico, our sister Republic. Of agri
Id Iture u science her cisiseEs are ens
Ignorant. They have not learned The
a5 rudimenta Of agriculture, and the q