The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1867-11-09
ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT ]. II. DOUTHIT
Oregon state Agricultural Society, 1867.
Ladies' and Gentleman :

Oregon state Agricultural Society, 1867.
Ladies' and Gentleman
Custom makes 1t the duty of tho person
occupying the official position which you
have placed me in the second time, to dc.
liver the Address at the opening Of tho
Annual Fair. and also TO select some ono
to make the Annual Address. In tho dis.
charge Of this last duty, / have selected
young man, by occupation a farmer, be-
lieving that on occasions like the present,
practical men alone should perform such
duties, and that every inducement and en-
couragement should bo given to those who
are engaged in the industrial pursuits TO
qualify themselves for public speaking, as
we'll as training the mind and hand to per.
form the requirements OF their chosen
calling. This being an age of untold pro-
gress and change 10 the conduct Of things,
there is no valid reason why we should be
under the necessity, on an occasion Of this
kind. and similar ones, of going to the
professions for persons to do our public
speaking In fact. the times seem TO de.
mand that we keep pace with the extraor-
dinary revolution in the order of things Of
our time.
The exhibitions Of labor, art and skin
are fixed institutions in our own country,
aud are growing in interest and import.
ance with every portion of the civilized
world, not only with the laborcrs them.
selyes. but with those occupying higher
stations in society and government; in
fact from the Emperor of absolute domin-
on down to the lowest subject and citi-
zen.
The great Exposition, tho Worlds Fair,
which has been going on at Paris during
the present season, is we'll calculated To-
excite your wonder aud admiration, and
We have every reason TO believe that
great beneficial results will be accomplish.
ed by IL to the civilization Of the age
There We find the heads Of governments
in attendance. competing with subject and
citizen for premiums on their products of
labor. ingenuity. utility and skin. and no
doubt. with az much solieitude for sue.
cess as can exist in the mind Not only
is this 50 with those competing for prcmi
ums. but the solicitude il shared by the
people of every country having exhibit
ors there. With what qualification have
We received the intelligence of the sue.
cess Of our own citizens in being award
ed premiums for some Of the most useful
and agreeable implements of civilized
/ life II Is natural for us 10 regard our
own and that Of our countrymen, as the
best; and this sentiment win have It's in
fucnce with exhibitors nj this Fair. as ii
always has had But VIC should bear in
mind that our interests and prcjudiccs
frequently abase our judgements and
when we find-as many will fnd-that
those selected to decide upon articles, do
50 against our judgments. let US not
charge it to an intended wrong, but TO o.
difference Of opinion
The great idea had in view 10 holding
Fairs, is TO bring man in contact with
man in useful and peaceful sense, and
compare product with product, implc-
mentg and skill with their like, ideas with
ideas. and mind with mind. so that the
desired object of life, and the end aimed
at, may be accomplished with the least
expense. and in the shortest time posi-
BILE: and also 10 enlist the sentiments aud
| feelings Of each in the welfare Of all.
IL is true that premiums are n secoDda-
~ consideration, and very laudable one.
which should be properly valued by ALL
They are as good If not the best, recon.
mendation to the public that can be given
of tho Importance aud value of the com.
modify. Too many Of our people place
too light value upon such things, and
do not consider that their duty and inter-
est require Of them to inform the public
in this manner Of the best method of do
ing this or that; or that they have, make.
or grow, the best Of any kind OF article
the community may require.
The influence which agricultural and
mcdaniel Fairs have had upon the So
cial condition and standing of the labor
ing classes. and upon the general prosper
ity Of our country, cannot be TO highly
appreciated. All we'll informed minds
viii. readily admit that, since Fairs have
become fixed institutions in the various
sections of our country, fresh impetus
has been awakened in every branch of
industry and public Improvement Es-
pecially is this so in agricultural and me-
chanical pursuits. Vast improvements
have been made in applying the labor
necessary to be done on the farm and in
the shop What was once the harder
part of farm labor, is now done with ease,
if not with pleasure. The sycle and the
scythe, requiring the muscle and sweat of
man in cutting the acre of grain or grass,
has been superseded, in great measure.
by the reaper and mower, doing in tho
same length of time, and in better man.
ner. ten and twenty times as much The
jack-plane has given way to the planer !;
where the former did its feet, the latter
now does its hundreds. So with that
great ciyiizcr of the world, the printing
press. Franklin, with his old hand press,
gave to his readers but one or two hnn-
dred sheets per hour; while the power
press of the present day will send forth
easily twenty thousand sheets per hour.
And so it is with almost every kind of
farming and mechanical labor
The industry and proper development
of the agricultural operations and resour-
ces of the country are being better un-
dcrstood and more correctly and Justly
appreciated. Within the past few years,
our National Government has began to
consider the agricultural interests of the
country in its proper light, and has estab.
lished an independent bureau for it's pro-
motion. With practical man at the
hnoI ap d1w~k.z