Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-09-12
BLAINE At MANCHESTER.



Mr.. Blaine attended the New England
fair at Manchester, Thursday. He was
introduced to the multitude by Hon.
George b. Loring and spoke as follows
Ladies and gentlemen-It is pleasant 10
ma ourselves III an aSSemblagp where we
all hear il name of higher honor than any
partisan designation, an aSSemblagp in
which we meet on the broad plane of Amer
lean citizenship and rejoice in the title as
i'll itself constituting II civic distinction of
priceless value. The agricultural fair is a
farmers parliament. On this dav and ON
TINS occasion the most independent class
OF citizens speak to the world by word and
deed for that great fundamental interest
on which the republic rests for its security
and its prosperity. 1t has come to be u
trlte saying that agriculture is the basis
OF all wealth; but the full measure of the
statement may he cumWrhcndrd when we
remember hat in this wear of grace 1881
the total value of the product from farm
and flock in the United States will exceed
H3Oou.oDoOuO I'm amount brought forth in
a single year vastly in excess of the whole
national debt at it, highest point We
are not in the habit Of considering New
England as specially DISTINGUISHED for
agriculture and yet the annual product
from her soil is greater in value than all
the gold taken from the mines of Califor-
ma ana Australia in the richest year of
.. ]
tru" and always successful miner in the
extraction OF money from the earth. Il fact
most NtriklnGIN proved in the history of
California. whose splendid march to wealth
and power only fairly began when the en-
ergleS OF her population were turned to
the production of bread for the world in
stead OF gold. The prOdigOrs ConSump-
tion of lifly-SiN millions OF people is
brought strlkinglN before lis when we
realize now vast proportion of our aggrc-
gate product is used at home and how
small IA share relatively is sent abroad
The hundred and odd millions of New
England farm product does not nearly
support her own people and they are com
PEELED to exchange the fruits of their me
ChaniCal industry to an enormous amount
annually for the means of subsistence 50
lavlshlY Outpoured from the wrHnarics of
the more fertile West And this fact is
but one of many which shows the indie
pendence of our people and the vast eN-
tent of our internal exchanges This scene
of to-day has an enhanced interest when
we reflect that throughout the gorgeous
autumn upon which we have lust entered
1t Will be reproduced in countless cOmmu-
mites throughout our broad Land From
ocean to ocean. from Northern lake To
southern gulf, the richness of the harvest
the contentment and happiness of he PEG
pie, VIII he shown on fields rs fair by dis
plays as brilliant as those which now de
light our eyes and gladden. our hearts
Nor VIII the autumn exhaust the inspiring
scenes when the chill of winter on the
Mort hcrn border of the Union shall make
the southern sun seem genial and wei
come Our bret hrcn of the colder region
Will continue the WOmdrOuS story They
invite us to witness in the commercial en-
porlum of the South the great triumph of
southern agriculture in the production of
that singular plant which has rcvulutiun-
Yea me manufactures and finances of the