Year: 1877

the most important OF all our resources tor
the revival of the depressed industries of the
country. The report shows our agricultural
progress during the year, and contains a
statement of the work done by this depart
ment for the advancement of agricultural in
dustry, upon which the prosperity of our peo-
pie so largely depends. Matters of informa-
ton are included of great interest to all who
seek, by the experience of others, to improve
their own methods of cultivation. The efforts
of the department to increase the production
of important articles of consumption will, it
is hoped, improve the demand for labor and
advance the business of the country, and
eventually result in saving some Of the many
millions that are now annually paid to for
eign nations for sugar and other staple pro.
ducts which habitual use has made necessary
in our domestic every day life.


The board on behalf of the United States
Executive departments at the International
Exhibition of 1876, has concluded its labors.
The final report of the board was transmitted
to Congress by the President near the close of
the last session. As these papers are under
stood to contain interesting and valuable in
formation, and will constitute the only report
emanating from the Government on the sub
ject of the exhibition, invite attention to
the matter, and recommend that the report
be published for general information.


POPULAR EDUCATION.


The wisdom of legislation upon the part of
Congress, in aid of the States for the educa-
ton of the whole people in those branches of
study which are taught in the common schools
of the country, is no longer question. The
intelligent judgment of the country goes still
further, regarding it as also both constitution
al and expedient for the General Government
to extend to technical and higher education
such aid as is deemed essential to the general
welfare, and to our due prominence among
the enlightened and cultured nations of the
world. The ultimate settlement of all ques-
tions of the future, whether Of administration
or finance, or of true nationality of sentiment,
depends upon the virtue and intelligence Of
the people. It is vain to hope for the sue.
cess of free government without the means
of insuring the intelligence of those who are
the source of power. No less than one.sev.
enth of the entire voting population of onr
country are yet unable to read or write. 1t
is encouraging to observe, in connection with
the growth of fraternal feeling in those States
in which slavery formerly existed, evidence
of increasing interest in universal education,
and l shall be glad to give my approval to
any appropriate measures which may be en-
acted by Congress for the purpose of supple.
menting, with national aid, the local systems
of education in those States and in all the
States; and having already invited your at
tention to the needs of the District of Colum-
bia, with respect to its public school system,
[ here add that believe it desirable, not so
much with reference to the local wants of the
district, but to the great and lasting benefit
of the entire country, that this system should
be crowned with university, in all respects,
in keeping with the national capital, and
thereby realize the cherished hopes of Wash
ington on this subject.


I also earnestly commend the request of
the regents Of the Smithsonian Institute that
an adequate appropriation be made for the
establishment and conduct of national mu.
scum under their supervision. ..........


I recommend also, such legislation as will
render available and efficient, for the purposes
of instruction, as far as consistent with the
public service, the cabinets or museum of in.
vention, of surgery, of education and Of sg'
ricultural and other collections, and the prop
erty of the National Government.


The Capital Of the Nation should be some
thing more than mere political centre. We
should avail ourselves of all the opportunities
which Providence has placed at our com.
mand to promote the general intelligence of
the people and increase the conditions most
favorable to the success and perpetuity of our
institutions. K. b. HAYES.


Washington, December 3, 1877.