Sacramento daily record-union., 1883-09-12
THE PAVILION

were 10 position. There was not many visit
ors there during the day, the park being a
greater attraction, but in the evening toe en-
tire building was a swarming mass of humsni-
ty. At o'clock the First Artillery baud De-
gan to discourse excellent music, following
during the evening the programme published
yesterday morning in the RECORD . MON. A
small pla form had been erected at the nor
end of the main hall, and few midutes after
S o'clock the Director, the Secretary and a
number of guests took seats on this platform.
Director J. Mem. Shafter did the beat he
could toward cAlling the people to order, and
then introduced President z. A. Finigan.
who in a clear and distinct voice delivered
the opening address, Of which the following
is the full text:
OPENING ADDRESS.
Ladies and Gentlemen This gathering of pro
ducers in the temple OF agriculture this magnificent
dspl Of the fruits Of intelligent industry, dates
the beginning Of new era in the progress Of agri-
culture Henceforth, the power and wealth of the
State Of California is pledged to sustain the mother
Of all arts agriculture and the re-inyigorated pro-
ducers, inspired by hopes, will strive success
fully TO lift the grand art 10 its legitimate place
amongst the nobest forms of human industry.
Inis day, agriculture, the basis OF all forms Of
human industry, gathers around it the industrial
and fine arts all the varied fruits of human in-
genulty, and pointing to them, says Behold my
children" And agriculture becomes more in
telgent and prosperous still other industries, now
unknown, will spring from its lOins, until each
human being shall be soothed with benefeent in
Auences
Already do we see some Of the grand results OF
agriculture in this state. It's cities and towns,
It's railroads, its manufactures, its commerce, its
schools aye, even its gOvernmtn ntsl life-all draw
their sustenance from agriculture for without agri-
culture none Of them could exist in permanent and
healthy forms.
But, while we eulogi.e agriculture, while we re-
joice in its stupendous achievements, as shown in
the varied forms of human industry while We
hopefully predict still grandsr achievements We
must remember that the whole is empty display
unless with these we produce true men aud women,
capable Of enjoying ali the fruits OF agriculture aud
Of performing all the duties that owes to man
Let US speak plainly Of these matters, tn 70 We
may have some worthy outcome from our efforts.
Great, indeed, have been the results Of agricult
ure; great IN the enrichment Of human life great
5neyerythng but have the producers gathered these
enrichments OF human life into their own ex stence
If they have not then have they permitted other
classes to obtain mastery that should have be-
longed primarily % the producers?
We know full well that the farming class is sturdy,
manly, vigorous OF thought, persistent IN action,
and in the maiu, true to the best interests Of the
human race but, "a rul', all other asses have
gained more Of the grand fruits that pertain to the
enrichment of life, aud which spring from asricuit-
uro. than the farming class.
shall not crircise farm life for the sake Of crit
icsm, but shall speak of its defects, asd consider
It's grand possibilities, because upon the success Of
its future improvement and development viii de-
pend the social moral and political destinies Of our
people
In sensing the subject I shall not attempt to
depict the defects Of farm life in California but ap
proach the subject by indrec-ion.
Why is It that the farmers children 50 eagerly
abandon their fathers calling? Why do they flock
10 the towns and cities ls 1t because the occupa-
tons Of the towns and cities are more productive Of
wealth
That there are occupations in tie towns and
cities that produce more wealth than farming no
viii deny, but it must be remembered that
the wealth produced belongs to the few that tina
retention OF we tlth is exceeding uncertain that
all but the small minority gain only a bare subsist-
ence and die without n Home Of their own Ninety
per cent. OF the mercantile classes fail in business
while the clerN', mechanics and telegraph operators
labor all their lives to enrich their employers In
certainty characterizes every town anu city calling
and every successful man represents ten thousand
unsuccessful ones. But tae farmer Is sure Of his
subsistence With average Industry End inteltg nee
SUCCESS belongs his calling. and, in the long run
farming pays better than any other calling. Ia the
towns and cities the exceptional man meets with
eminent SUCCESS in the country the average man
succeeds in gaining more than enough TO sulpiy his
wants. From these statements there is lao appeal,
except to the Imagination Of the dreamy youth who
feeds his hopes with delusjcns.
The children Of the farmer, except the few do
not rush 60 the jwns and cities because they Uect
to win wealth. OF if they do they fail 70 manifest
that exDectasion in their methods Of labor.
Besides the desire for wealth is not the ruling
passion of the majority Of mankind howe YER much
they may be willing to a cept IL when it comes The
farmers children in rushing tOws I'd cities nay
dream Of wealth, but they 20 there, rule, with
other purposes.
The farmer sometimes inagnes that his children
abandon the farm for towns aud cities because OF
the supposed fact that life in town aud city is less
laboricus than flrm life If so, they are led by 8
delusi0n, aud they can realize their DEAN only by
becoming dudes and loafers.
City life il quite eEacting in its demands o
toll as the fe OF the farmer, and the average bust
ness man IS eyen more heavily taxed than tn,
farmer TIE mechanic, merchant clerk, railroad
man, telegraph operator, lawyer, doctor, woIl
hours and IN most instances for less pay thar
the farmer, while his eXDens are much greater.
Il is sometimes saId, BY way OF explanation, tha
town and city life is more elegant digniti5d anC
aTstOcratic than that Of the farmer aud therefor,
the life Of the city is preferred The statemen
c1ntains TRUTH though the form OF 1t smacks o
error
The real truth is that the turner's children fee
the influence of an age that is quickening humal
tastss-enlarging human desires. The very atmos
phere OF the day inspires the young with q deslr
for beautiful things, life Of refinement, and M
power known to man can foreibly expel these taste
when they once born. Tastes will be graf iies
az all costs, whether ot peace or Of safety, sn'
though every thing else goes to the wall. 10 is onll
the few who can restrain themselves in the gratif
cation Of taste, for purpose, whether Of smbitioI
or the love Of wealth. II there exists taste fo
DeAuAlul eAutaratluE sights aud social lie
it will be gratiied, though the old father an,
mother live alone on the iarm. And this is OFT
great reason why the children of the farmer h0ci
20 the towns and cities The sge in which the,
live has given them tastes that are not aud canno
be gratiad in farm life 1t is often eonduc ed
In town and city there are attractions Of an over
whelming nature in every sini0w, beautiful yard
pretty bulldog, in every social gathering, anC
therefore they abandon the farm and seek the cit
thst they y crafty tastes that have to then
without their asking
Again, it issaid that the farmers children ek t,
the towns aud cities because OF their love Of eX
element that cannot be had in the country. ant
this statement is true, though it should be eouehe'
in better form.
The statement suggests certain fundamental
Euths that must be better understood before maj
can tul y comprehend his OVn nature. Uuderiyn.
everything else IN is the desire feel that he
ave, ths desire 70 feel CONSEQUENCES that he is il
existence This Is mans protest against DEATH an.
everything that is allied it.
One person resorts to study and mental labor this
ne may obtain the sense Of life that comes iron
thinking another resorts to fervish action for tn
same purpose others u the thsater aud the yariOu
form Of associated life; and stil others resort u
intoxicating drink, for no other purpose than {,
feel the pulsatioas of lie within them. Ia fact
human beings plu1ge into any and everything ths
will mpart 10 them this exhllaraticn. Call il low
OF excitement, Il You will, tut it IS nevertheless
based upon fundamental laws OF human nature.
IN the county these opportunities are too uuirs-
quent. Life is too tame; and the Young, feeling
the growing desire for sense of existence fee t.
the towns and cities, and the country is robbed O
its best blood.
In these two reasons We find the underlying cause
of this exodus from the farm TO tbe towns an,
cities The fact is 4 strain upon the lie OF our peo
pie and drain upon agricultural life. Already y
feel the bad results
Farming il undervalued; towns and cities ar
overpopulated, and crime increases with anlzin
Tapidity.
great evil must bs consdered-when the currsn
must be reversed.
Much is being done IN the right direction by IN
economic laws that operate without our consent
and which compel men 70 flee from towns and ellie
10 the country, because Of the increasing difficult
OF obtaining a subsistence in the former. And thi
eause will continue 70 work good results n the fl
ture. But the real remedy must be sppliel with q
intelligent purpose By beings who are capable {
What Is the rernsdy7 The aaswer is simple: Tn