The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-10-10
THE GOVERNORS SPEECH
WORDS or THE EXECUTIVE ON TIE
OPENING or TIE EXPOSITION
v,lbu,e 20 tho yirginia Farmer ana words
of Pralse for the Artisan--hdvies
About The Roads.

- IIsh privilege BY the invitation OF the
4 Virginia Agricultural and Mecha llcal 90
cirry To deliver the opening addresS on
Il sb,s' Interesting occasion This nonor mas
4 len conferred upon me, not as repre-
"a sentative agricultural or mechanic pu'
j because 81 the position ! hoid, uy HS
81 choice and fdyoritism OF the people OF
"a Nfr..n.a But let me say that Mhlle nav
"a M. has been directed into other channels'
IA and ] am neither a farmer nor aItsaI,,
81 Weld 10 40 man In my admiration on
III mo hus58ndman and my respect lot ''e
III worker IN woods or metals -,..,,...,
III Agriculture was mans FIRST ana Original
III occupation. The Lord God. Whtn ne
II made man took him and put him IN
81 garden eastward IA Eden, To WoTk II
81 and 10 keen H. The farmer stahus pre-
81 eminentIy the lord OF Creauoh. ~ no
~ human shrine Shouiu ne "V,@u,p' 20 80
& no human altar should ne kheeL 10 no
81 human mover should ne do homage
~ The hand mat wrote th" declaration OF
81 IndCpcudeucc rcrncd these words ~
81 ,ho farmer forever be- honorcd IN ms caIl1
81 ING Tor tucy who labor iu the carth are
"a the chosen people Of God.
~ lHRfE WAYS.
81 Franklin the philosopher declared that
81 'thprr seem to he but three Ways Tor
nation 20 acquire WeaIjh' ihe nIst rs Dy
.ou11.crpd nctgubOrg-this Is robbery, the
second by commerce, not always lair;
tho third by agriculture, at all times hon
est wherein man receives real IN
q cr.aso of the seeds thrown into the
81 ground I'm "A kind of continual miracle.
II wrought by the hand Of God IN his favor,
q as reward for his innocent life and
q y.rtuOus industry
81 I'm eloquent tones, the illustrious Pitt in
II sisted that while trade Increases the
81 wealth and glory OF a country, its real
81 strength and stamina are 10 be looked
81 FOR among the cultlvators of the soil"
81 The renowned American statesman
81 Webster proclaimed to an assembled null
81 rlld- that the farmers are the founders
..f ...t. . tfi D
81 cato. the great Roman statesman put
on record this declaration THE agricui-
Il tural population produces the braveSt men
Il and the most valiant soldiers and IN
4 this connection we remember how On
Cinuatus was called from the field where
he was at work. clad in his tunic. 10
save his state with the sword, Whlch ne
did In twenty-four hours. and how Israel
Putnam turned his oxen loose ana lcit
the plOw when the news OF me batle
of Lexington reached him, ana now al
- the embatud farmers stood.
-And fired the shot heard round the WorlH.
FXALTED VOCATION.
I am proud 10 stand in the presence
of this vast cOnCOuTse OF men thus ~
Handsomely extollcd and whose lives are
devoted 10 making two ears OF corn or
two blades OF grass grow where only one
grew before, and whose vocation ,tAdlt'
their thoughts and keeps perpetuaIly ne
fore their view the supreme Power as
displayed in the wonders or nature.
III
dress so large au audience OF men WHosc
faces beam with Intelligence ana are
flushed with the pride that springs from
a conception OF the high calling In when
a thov ara engaged. Nly pleasure Is nten-
81 si6cl when ] recall the fact that | stand
81 upon Virginia soil. under Virginia sun,
n with Virginia breeZes tanning my cheeks
q and hearts before me beating ana SOULS
81 before me swelling with love for this
"a old Commonwealth, whose skies are
81 abaza with the Clorics of her sons ana
ttTs.
81 ID is unnecessary for me to remind the
farmers present that apart from the
II benefits which are derived from the dis
II play OF oar productions and resources,
"A much good is wrought by meetings Of TINS
kind. At these meetings representative
farmers gather from every county in the
state they come because the filling OF
the soil is their life-wOTk, and they lOVe
10 meet, miHgie and converse with each
otHtI. .Ihcy have "A common purpose ami
common interest like sympathies and
aspirations, and with that spirit of un-
selhshuess which has ever marked them,
they lmpart to one another their dis
coVerles ana the results of their expert
ments I'm the high art. Like the prac-
uioh"r 10 ne healing art. they are ever
eager Z" disclose whatever they may
have learned which may be Of advan-
tdtr 10 those who are stripped TO the
WORK. They have no iealOuSieS and wish
tdch olhcr well, and each casts his mite
into the general fund Of information
Ihey discuss the character of the soil,
me elements required 10 raise the vari-
Gus crops, the values Of fertilizers eli
matte influences and the thousand and
one Iiiht0 winch attract the attention
a44 create thought in he mind of IN"
Wldr-aWake. intelligent and prosperous
worker OF the ground IL is good for all
OF MS 10 rub and polish our brain against
tHo-e OF others. but. unfortunately. too
many are content in their own wisdom
Noi $50 with the farmer-the advanced
farmer ne Is student; he Is ready 10
iJa'n ana believes In the proverb, iron
'"uh'cnance OF his friend"
SCIENCE OF FARMING.
! think ! can say without fear ~ euc-
t'1SIuI contradiction, that the science OF
!'IIuIhI mas made more rapid strides I'm
we IaSt three decades than in the pre-
Nluus hundred years. Farming is no long
ti regarded as mere matter of muscIe
nor is he considered the best farmer who
rises with the lark and delves and digs
rom me early dawn until starlight.
lhIpdGh all the seasons of the year
would not underestimate industry and dill
lsShcr, push and energy. Far from IT,
] know there is no time for idling TO
achieNe success in any pursuit but |
mean 10 say that the farmer should have
hours, not only for physical excrtioY
hut Tor mental Improvement and the
farmer who contents himself with simnle
muscular work. however assiduous he
may be- VIII soon find himself tagging be-
hind in the march of progress III is oasv
10 learn 10 dig. but to learn when, how
! a
achievement which can only be reached
through dlga mt study. inquiry ana re-
search. He that would seek for pearls
must dive below So. the knoVleIoe
gained on an occasion like this is Of
infinite value. AZ his fireside the farmer
can read agricultural periodicals and | /
assume that every farmer fully alive to
his interests does this, and when ne
comes to a meeting like the present. ne /
finds a stOrehOuse Of information which |
has been gathered by his co-aborers |
from their study and experience and i'm |
his Intercourse with them n receives and !
imparts, and returns 10 his home with +
knowledge which will lead him 10 a /
more intelligent cultivation Of the soil |
and an easier and more rapid accumula- /
ton OF the fruits Of honest toll.
DIGNlIY OF AGRICULTURE.
IL Is most gratifying TO me 10 know /
that within the last few years the dignity /
OF agriculture has been recognized more /
than at any other period I'm our history. |
During my service in Congress / had the /
pleasure OF seeing agriculture elevated /
10 a position which IL always should have |
occupied. / saw a Department OF Agricul- !
ture established and its chief made a
member Of the Presidents Cabinet. Every |
State now. | think, has an officer whose
duty IL is 10 look after and foster the
interests OF agriculture. Colleges and in
stitutiOns for the instruction OF the youth |
OF our land In the beautiful science have
been erected In every section. and are
sustained. more or less. by state appro-
priations. and to-day thousands of young
men are being taught the principles re
corded IN the Book Of Nature, while
thousands within the last decade or two