The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-10-23

Citizens Of Linn:
Ladies and Gentlemen:
At the close Of another abundant
harvest, such as bountiful Provi
dence has never failed to bestow OF
this beautiful and productive valley
we find ourselves amidst the festivities
reunions, and generous competitions
of our twelfth annual fair.
1t is certainly worthy of special com.
mendation, that n society for the pro.
motion of industrial interests should
have existed SO early, and should now
be m established institution of region,
but little over quarter of century
ago, the undisputed domain of savages.
While the history of the enterprise
which impelled the pioneers of chris.
tian civilizaion-of agriculture, man
ufactures and commerce-of civil and
religious rights and liberties to the
Pacific shores, shall be read, this fact
ought not to be undervalued nor for
gotten.
The grand object of associations is,
or ought to be, To elevate the stan
dard of the productions of the soil, oi
trades and manufactures; and TO i'm
prove the breeds of domestic animals,
by comparing skill and modes Of OPP
Ieration-by exciting q spirit of gener-
Gus rivalry and emulation-aad bytho
diffusion of information which directs
and ennohles industry, and stimulates
to the earning of wages and the gain
ing OF profits, III the harmonious CO.
operation of labor and capital, without
which there is but little progress either
IN communities or nations.
Washington, whose wisdom and So
gacity were only exceeded by his patri-
otisIn, regarded agriculture as of pri-
mary Importance to individual and ma
tional welfare, and urged "that the
public purse should be freely used for
its promotion, and Boards established
TO collect and distribute information,
and by premiums to encourage enter
prise aid experiment, discovery aud
improvement" declaring that "cxpe-
rience had shown these TO be the cheap
est instruments OF public advance
ment.
Agriculture, manufactures and COM
merce, are the worlds three great
branches OF productive industry But
of these, agriculture is the nursing
mother, the basis OF wealth and pros
perity. The plow plays tho leading
part IN the creation Of values, even il
commercial and manufacturing coun-
tries. OF this fact the British Empire
affords convincing proof. For, excel
ling all other nations in commerce and
manufactures which are the basis OF
her power,-yet nearly three-ffths of
her net revenue Is derived from her
agriculture alone. This single fact es-
tablishes the predominence of tho ag-
ricultural element IN the wealth of M
tons. In the United States this pur-
suit employs largely more capital and
labor than all others combined, and
marks most signally the progress OF
our nation in wealth and power. Three
fourths of the people have rural homes,
and in nearly that proportion, cult
vate the soil.
The engagements of the people then,
being so largely agricultural, suggests
the true estimate to be placed on this
species of labor. Canals, Railroads.
Electric Telegraphs, the monuments
of our age; the numbers drawn from
the ovcrcrowded nations Of the old
world ;. the ships on seas and oceans
the steamers on lakes and rivers the
minds and hands that invent and con-
struct the implements and cdiices OF
utility and luxury-all are the seryi-
tors and hand-maids waiting on agri-
culture Without these, she would
indeed be shorn Of her glory and her
power; but without her they would
not exist.
If, therefore, the farmers of our
country do not maintain an elevated
position-if they WELD not q strong
social and political infuence-if they
profess not just proportion of the
consideration, emoluments and honore
of the government and nation, the
fault is not their vocation for the
Heayen-appointed pursuit of over half
mankind, on which all rely, cannot
necessarially be degrading.
/ never can admit that the non-pro-
ducing class should claim, in any re-
spect, superiority over those who rise
with the dawn to their daily toll, and
who give to all other classes support
and sustenance. In this free land
without titles and entails, where civil
social and political institutions rest on
the principles of regard to the just
rights of all-where merit should be
the only ground of preferment-it be.
comes public duty, and just policy
not only to remunerate the farmer
but to yield him all that consideration
to which his most meritorious calling
, f.,,tlAs f:.,,t;tlAs him. This will be best effect
:, 4, en- =, ~ ;ST;;selv conducted. industrial az
sociations; by periodlcais devoted t.
agriculture and the interests of labor
by the liberal provisions of the State
| if need be, to giyeto education, from th'
common school up to our colleges AM
!. universities, t. direct practical applica
ton to those pursuits which must nee
essariy employ the greatest number
and which intimately affect the inter
/ ests of all. Let the conviction tina
not only preachers, doctors and lawyers
military men and engineers, but farm
ers as well, of right ought to be educa
9 ted. Then, and not sooner, will tn
r dignity and Importance of agricultu
raj pursuits be vindcated and dul
t appreciated.
D Many of the States of Europe al
far in advance of the United States
j agronomic education, and the marke