Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-07-18
Mr.. Morrill, on Agricultural Education.

In a speech in the Senate in 1872, our
worthy to be kept before the people. We
make few memorable extracts
" But we want a system of broader educa-
ton for the American people in the arts of
peace. 1t is perhaps unnecessary at present to
multiply institutions for the training of pro-
fessional men, as those we have are equal to
the task of furnishing all that are needed,
and some professional supernumeraries
not so much needed. The great want is a
system by which each one among the masses
may become more valuable to himself and
to society, and more honored and esteemed
Agriculture and the mechanic arts always
have been drilled. Willing hands can here
always find room for boundless enterprise.
Our own artisans, however, like too many
other Americans, most esteem the dignity of
pecuniary profits, and are generally supposed
to be more proud of swift work than of the
skillful and dexterous. They wear out, and
leave too few honored names to gild their
memories and stamp their workmanship.
Let them be taught better. Agriculture
also should have such base OF scientific
instruction as will enable every farmer to
obtain more valuable crops without an an
nual and permanent depletion of the soil.
"The paramount object is TO place higher
and more appropriate education within reach
of all, the poor as well AS the rich, without
regard to ancestry or race, and of that sort
which will engender perpetual appetite for
more. For this purpose, il we rely only
upon the few colleges ever so well established
as private corporations they will be too much
crowded, or fail TO excite general sympathy,
or be hampered by an antiquated course of
studies, or designed solely for professional
advancement, and the cost will be made to
many an unbearable burden but let them
be well founded in every state by national
aid, and then local pride will be aroused to
nurse and guard their prosperity, and the
expense of a liberal education will be made
so moderate that no one will be excluded
who has strength of natural parts, and sufii-
cent ambition TO go and knock at the doors,
" II is only truism 10 assert that educa-
ton is essential TO our form of government.
The best government must have the best
men as citizens. A republic could not stand
a cycle of the moon among llottentots, and
often reels, totters and falls even among
races claiming TO be enlightened. Democ-
raey must fail when only upheld by ignor-
ance and vice, and can only succeed by a
general diffusion of both knowledge and
virtue. In other lands and under other
forms of government education may be
optional; with us it is indispensable. I'm
taught and unprincipled men may be gov
erned, but they cannot govern; they cannot
be trusted. The intellectual and moral
progress of men is the great force which
cripples and binds absolute and illegitimate
power. This force is needed AZ a check in
= popular governments quite as much as in
those more arbitrary.
"At present the habits of our rural popu
ation are pure and simple. A dense popula
ton, increasing wealth, voluptuous living
and materialistic philosophy toward which
the world is said to be tending, may change
all this. Let the American Congress, then
not hold back any measure that tends TO re
lieve future peril, or that will lift up the in
4 tellectual and moral standard of the young
, and industrial classes of our country, and
these embrace the most part of that un
known throng which only awaits our exit t.
crowd forward on to the stage where they art
r TO be the pilots Of state and WELD the polit
4 ical and civil, as well as the moral and re
ligious forces Of the New World"