Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-07-07
PLoWShARES AND SWORDS.
AT THE MAssACHU
sETrs AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
ny PROFESSOR WALKER.

A review OF 10 years OF agricultural
education reveales the following facts
| |. The American farmers come OF
good stock seven eighths are of native
parentsge.
=. Their past record is magnificent
| they have subdued the continent and
fed the nations, supplied raw material
and protection and market for our
factories, and furnished the manhood
that has won our battles and achieved
success in all spheres Of action.
3. The striking feature Is the demand
for education for the farm, not as here
tofore away from the farm; for an edu-
cation that shall make agriculture pro-
fessiou that shall be the peer OF any
other vocation.
1. The progress OF agricultural edu-
cation Is notable. The grant OF the
United States In 1862 which established
agricultural colleges In the states and
territories WAS only the beginning. IL
stimulated states and individuals TO rival
the federal government. IL led to the
demand which resulted In the act OF
lSs. appropristing $1,000 annually for
an experiment station in connection with
each college. The success OF these
stations has led TO the persistent demand
that agricultural education shall be not
merely technical training, but broad,
liberal and thorough culture OF the man.
Hence came the further grant OF ls9o OF
81, 900 annually TO each agricultural
college. Asa result OF all, there has
been an awakening OF the entire agricul-
tural population, north, south, east and
west, 10 the study of agriculture In all
its manifold relstions 10 the tariff, 10
finance. TO political economy and to
political science.
). From 1920 to $50 the farmers
were undoubtedly the dominant class.
Till lSG0 they were still powerful In
social and political affairs. Indications
now point 10 the conclusion that the first
half Of the 2uth century l. TO see the
agricultural classes Of America again
clothed with dominant power. They
are 10 be an educated class. Sturdy
Anglo Saxons, they have the ballot and
the genius of democratic government.
They possess land whose inhabitants
must find their chief employment in
agriculture; all other occupations from
Necessity huee u' 'HS'"'"''' "
sidary.
They have come upon an age when the
cyclone and the electric railroad and the
distribution Of power and the results of
sanitary and social science tend 10 scat
ter the people of the great city into the
country. When IN st. Louis millions OF
property and hundreds of lives are
DESTROYED In a single half hour, men
cannot but see that distribution Is safer
than concentration. Then the avoca-
tion of the educated farmer Is itself
continued means Of physical, mental and
moral development, while his home
furnishes the best Of all environments
for the education OF the coming gener-
ations of the people.
We coaclude, then, that the one pro-
duet OF the farms OF America, cultivated
from colonial times 10 the present hour,
grown never in greater quantity, never
OF better quality than today, Is genuine
manhood.
The politicians, the manufacturers,
those engaged in transportation ana
trade, the professions, the fashionable
world. none of these as a class can sur
pass the farmers Of America in the an
nual product OF sterling character and
noble manhood; few can equal them.
Here then must be found the basis OF
the future glory Of America. Here is
foundation for enduring liberty aud
national life. Here is hope for all the
nations OF the earth. When the plough
and pruning hook shall take the place OF
spears and swords, when men shall live
beneath their own vine and hg tree,
taught Gods ways, walking IN his paths
when the nations shall be at peace, then
will society attain it. highest consums-
ton and the kingdom OF God be estab-
lished on earth.