The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-10-09
Address Of f. L. Morrill, Esq. ut the
Seventh Annual Fair Of the Red
wood Co. Agricultural Asse.
citation. Oct. Sd. 1879.
Mr.. President:
Gentlemen of the Association;

lueTc IS lFduItlOu as Ol(t as TIC d.
BILE, and as widely. as universally known,
among the Nations of the earth that,
over 5000 years ago, from the great Gre
ator and Ruler of the Universe, went
forth this Fiat, to all mankind. by the
sweat of the brow shalt thou earn thy
bread" And whether it lie true. that
from the lips of the Almighty, that de
cree was actually pronounced. upon the
guilty pair who fled the lightning of his
wrath in the Paradise of old. to be in
force. like an act OF modern legislation,
from thenceforth throughout all succeed
ing generations-until repealed; or,
whether the whole account be but the
perfection of a highly wrought fiction,
the product of the fertile imagination of
some hoary headed. ancient philosopher,
is a matter of no material import or sig
niticance to us here to day.
This we know: that whencc-cvcr orig
mated the assertion. whether from the
mind of Man; or from the will of an
overriding God, it was the declaration
OF a principle, from the power and work
ings of which. has sprung that great, I'M
iversal branch of human industry, known
as Agriculture.
AS rule, labor is an inevitable prere-
quisite to human existence. Among the
multiplied and varied powers with which
we'as human beings have been endowed
by an all wise and bcniticent Creator. it
is Incumbent upon each individual per-
son. to employ some one or more of those
powers, for the purpose of obtaining a
livelihood.
Notwithstanding all the provisions
which in nature have been made for
mans comfort and happiness on this
beautiful earth, so carefully, and wisely
made, that there is not desire of the
heart. or necessity of our natures,
which there is not ample provision to
meet and satisfy; yet so have the laws
which govern human existance been ar
ranged, that not want will be met, not
desire will b, gratifed --without effort
on the part Of the individual himself.
In the mystic properties of the soil, lie
hidden untold treasures. TO meet the de-
mands of human necessity: but there
must be an application of brain and mus
Gle. to extract and utilize them for our
benefit. The slothful man may lie in
active. in the bosom of the richest valley;
or stand idly in in the the midst of the
most fertile plain. and starve. and die,
for want of food: or freeze and perish in
the wintry blast, ere nature will furnish
food to nOurish, or shelter to protect.
And yet, realizing this to be a univer-
sal. prime necessity, the result of fixed
and implacable law. which we have no
power to modify or avert-there are men,
not few in number, even in this enlight-
encd age of the world. who look upon
labor Of any kind, as being dishonorable,
and rate the laborer as being unworthy
the recognition and cOurtesies due to
high-born manhood.
But let Is look at it for moment.
By the law of Nature, we have conferred
upon us. as individuals. the power of mo-
ton. Let us suppose that there is some
thing which we desire. at a given point
distant from us; in order to obtain it, we
must exercise the power given us. and
move forward to that point. Which
would be the more dishonorable? by the
use of muscular power, to move forward to
the given point. and obtain the coveted
article by our own unaided efforts; or by
the exercise of arbitrary power, compel
some weaker brother to carry us the dis
lance, that cur desires may be fulfilled?
Earth, air and sea are teeming with
bounteous gifts to man, The only condi-
ton of our acquiring. using, and enjoy
ing them, is that we use the powers which
we possess. And let it strike where it
will. whether upon proud. idle lord, or
shiftless subject, upon aristocratic extor-
toner, or lazy beggar, upon those who roll