The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1867-10-26

truth ushcred IN with tho advent of that
era, bore the glad tidings of coming
greatness in the future destiny of man.
The laws of nature are fixed and immova.
BILE; subsistence is an Indispensable at.
tribute Of life. The decree had gone
forth: "By tho sweat of the brow shalt
thou obtain thy brcad,.' aud they who
should first bear the command to do its
bidding were TO be the movers of rolor-
nation, the builders Of society, the pio.
neers of advancement and civilization,
and felt the refining influence Of manly
virtue, moral worth and intellectual i'm.
provemcut, within tho reach of all who
sincerely desire their attainment.
The beginning Of agriculture as a step
from barbarism towards enlightenment,
was the introduction Of series Of pro-
gression, which, with the lapse of time,
should be developed, each in its order,
TO aid in extending the work of anchor.
alton already commenced. The voice
that whispered "go forth aud plow the
fields breathed into bosoms, deprayed
and hardened with the usages of war, in.
ceniivcs Of purity. peace and good will
The mentai faculty, awakened with
shouts of gladncss Of approaching day,
sprang from its slumbcring couch, in
spircd aud animated with the duties of
its sacred Office, and the physical world,
awed and submissive in :hc presence of
superior, heard apd obeycd the man
dates Of its newborn mastcr-mind.
The dark clouds of mystery and un-
certainty that 80 long prcvaded tic king
doms Of earth with al impcnetrablc
gloou, have disappeared through tue
uutiring efforts Of research aud inyes-
tigaiion. Rulas have become fixed !;
principles have been established over the
remains Of erroneous fancy and fal.e be-
lief; habit aud custom, once rude aud
turbulent, are now polished with system,
aud shaped with order. Science, gor-
geously auaycd in natural causes and
effects, has played upon the inventive
powers of man aud art, vying in useful
ness to economizc strength and time, has
reduced TO practical application the tested
truths of science, and made smooth the
once uneven ways Of life. Laws have
been Instituted as a guaranty against open
violence aud wanton outrage; christian
ity has been framed in conformity to the
dictates of conscience, and in accordance
with the command " As &c would that
men should do unto you, do yc even unto
them" Barren wastes and tracklcss
Wills converted in grain fields, grazing
and meadow lands, have amply rewarded
constant diligence with abundant fruitful.
ness Nations have risen in the onward
march with all the pomp and grandeur
Of earthly power and glory; governments
have been erected upon stable foundations,
resting in the security Of their own ca.
pacity, to satisfy the present aud future
want; the ring Of the anvil aud the echo
of the woodman's ax, keeping stroke with
advance Of time the hum o. mills and
manufactures, aud the shrek of the iron
horse, laden with the commodities Of in.
land trade and traffic the waves of ocean
whitened with the commerce Of interna-
tional exchange. and world tceming in
pursuit and possession aud oyeFhowing
with prosperity-all Of these are living
witnesses in behalf Of agriculture, rs the
FIRST great leading cause Of man. gradual
ascendancy from the days of barbarism to
his present eminence, in the scale Of hu-
man excellence, wisdom and power
We need not 20 out Of our country 10
seek for proofs to substitute our asser-
tons. The United States of America,
as an individual power, owes its present
standpoiLt in the catalogue of nations !:
first, to its agricultural resources second
| ly to its mechanical and manufacturing
abilities; and thirdly, to the manner in
which its people have diligently prose-
cuted the work of peaceful pursuit. Ag-
ricnlture, through the pcrsevering energy
of its dcvotees aided by mechanical art
in the economy of labor, has furnished
the raw material for subsistence and ap-
parel manufacture has reduced its pro-
ducts to better suit the requirements for
home use and commercial relations, and
our landed system giving to each worthy
sou Of toll home, was the crowning act
of American Liberty in framing the bull
warks to public aeeurity, and has been
the secret of success in promoting general
welfare and harmonizing popular senti-
ment with concord Of action and mutual
interest, followed by commitment and
that degrees of prosperity unequaled in
the records of other countries where
landed monopolies haYe been tolerated
Not century has glided away into past
since the birth of our Republic, but in.
dustry has its record, and the few infant
colonies that formed the constituent parts
of the embryo nation have expanded with
gigantic proportions into noble States
others have been added to the list, till
now the members of the great Union are
scattered over its broad domains, from the
Gulf to the Canadas, and from ocean to
ocean. 1t is an established axiom, thai
like causes produce like effects, and il
those we have mentioned have served sc
we'll to make opulent the people of other
States, may not We, in our endeavors tc
build up the institutions of our own
profit by their examples ?
Surrounded, as we have been through
out this occasion with so many manifest
ations of industry, skill and good taste
we can arrive at but one conclusion: that
the citizens of Oregon are public spirited
in all that pertains to public improve
ment--and as improvement in its every
sense is embodied in the intent of this
society, I sincerely hope it may remain
one of the leading features of the State
Let the spirit Of good feeling that has
existed IN this assemblage prevail on sim
liar gatherings of after date; and while
cnmnatitinn- if hnnnrahlv exacntad. vii