The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-12-09

The idea is not new, and almost every
branch OF business, and almost every pro-
fession and art, hes its school house near at
hand. The lawyer has his law school, the
doctor has his medical school, and the priest
his theological school. We have schools in
our navy, schools in our army, and schools,
to greater or less extent, for instruction
in all the arts and sciences, with one excep-
ton. You may travel over this country
thousands of miles, containing millions of
population, without finding single agri.
cultural school.
There is no reason why schools should
not be established to the single end and pur-
pose OF educating men to be farmers, per-
haps including mechanics. The two classes
constitute the great conservative power and
support of this country aud ali civilized
countries. Schools should be established in
which they could receive thorough and
polished education, but an education adapt
ed to their wants In life. They need neither
Latin, Greek or Hebrew to enable them to
cultivate their farms they do need to be
educated in all those branches of learning
and science which tend to purify and enlarge
the mind, and which may be brought into
daily use for pleasure or profit in after life.
1t is their interest to be instructed in the
practical, and not in the fanciful. Public
opinion needs reformation upon this subject.
The prevailing idea grows out of this popu-
lar fallacy-that men who are learned must
not labor. 1t is not, of course, practicable
to make every laborer learned man, but it
should be the object OF the people and the
government to raise the standard as high as
possible 1t cannot be denied that in this
State the people have done as much for the
establishment of schools as could have been
expected, but these remarks are made, so
far as we are concerned, in reference to the
future and not to the past. We have a
project for an agricultural school.
1t is probably known to most of those
who hear me, that the Legislature of this
State has by law adopted some incipient
measures for the establishment of an agricul-
tural College in the town of Glencoe in the
county of Mcleod. To carry out the de-
signs of the Legislature beautiful tract of
land was donated to the State by individuals
consisting Of 800 acres.
The charge of this matter was conferred
by the Legislature upon the State Agricul-
tural Society, and during the past summer,
l think in the month of July, several of the
officers of ths Society and other gentlemen
of high standing and influence in our State,
visited the lands for the purpose of deter
mining whether they were fitted for the pur-
pose designed. think from all saw and all I
heard, these was not and could not have been,
a difference of opinion among the great
numbers present, and that all agreed that
more beautiful site could not be found with
in the limits of the State. 1t is sufficient
in extent for model farm it is somewhat
elevated having commanding view OF the
country around it has rich soil and is
situated in the midst of county which 1
think is quite as fertile and more beautiful,
more pleasant to the eye than any have
seen in the State.
The State by its Legislature has estab-
lished this school at that point. 1t should
be deemed as fixed fact that it is there to
go into operation. 1t has often been said
in my presence, that the location was OBJ
jectionable on account of the fact that it is
in the interior and some few miles from
navigable waters. 1t is very questionable
however whether the site is not more jndi-
cious and valuable for the very reason which
is thus urged against it.
1t is not to be expected that at the pre-
sent time, in the midst of our financial en-
barrassments, the State will undertake to
incur large expenditures which can be
reasonably avoided. But the idea should
be fostered, and the place set apart
and known as the Agricultural College
Grounds and Model Farm of Minnesota
and the necessary buildings constructed,
and other useful improvements made as fast
as the ability of the people will reasonably
permit. 1t may safely be regarded as an
institution of more value and Importance
to our State than any other which it is in
our power to establish. 1t cannot fail to
be a monument of pride and interest to the
people of the State for generations to come
While speaking upon this subject it may
not be out of place to suggest that our
State Agricultural Society, into whose
charge the affairs of this institution is
placed, does not seem to have any legal Or
ganization, and that if the charge is to be
continued in the same hands, some legisla-
ton would seem to be necessary in order to
place it in the power of the Government,
and on some certain basis.
But have already detained you long
enough. My purpose has been to have
with you simple talk upon those subjects
in which laboring men are or ought to be
interested, and whatever interests them
ought TO be needed by the entire population.
Keep to work with your strong hands had
and courageous hearts, and phenix-lik
our State will rise again and you will take
pride more than ever in calling yourselves
Minnesotians