TRANSACTIONS OF HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILL. 285 



Prof. Thomas. — I think it is time such subjects should be discussed, 

 and the legitimate offices and work of our Legislatures understood, that 

 our minds should be established upon these points. I believe the Gov- 

 ernment should foster agriculture, which is the basis of all individual and 

 national wealth and prosperity. Our Legislatures are the people them- 

 selves or their delegates or representatives assembled to make laws and 

 regulations not only for the restraining of criminals, but for devising 

 means to secure general intellectual culture and to develop the material 

 resources of the State. 



We are too apt to look upon our legislative bodies or the "Govern- 

 ment" as some arbitrary power above us which dominates over us, instead 

 of a part of the people chosen to execute the will of the whole people in 

 promoting general peace and prosperity. 



Mr. Minkler. — Mr. President, which is cheapest — to educate the 

 whole people or support half of them in the penitentiary? (Applause.) 



Mr. Wilcox. — The precedent of taxing people for any industry is a 

 bad one. Establish the principle that the Government is to foster all 

 interests which are for the good of the people, and we would be soon led 

 to ruin, the people would be taxed to support all branches of industry. 

 Our public schools are all wrong ; our legislation has been sadly diverted 

 from its legitimate channel. 



The President, calling Vice-President Pratt to the chair, said: 

 The Government fosters education, and it seems to me that if there is 

 any legitimate work for our Legislature it is this. The State Government 

 has seen fit to make the Illinois State Horticultural Society (of which 

 this Society is an integral part) a Department of the State. We are not 

 in the position of clubs and societies organized for the purpose of pro- 

 moting the personal interests of their members. By virtue of our charter 

 we are a part of the Government, subject to regulations provided by other 

 departments — the General Assembly and the higher courts. These other 

 branches have wisely decided to allow us to publish for the good of the 

 people these reports of the State Board of Agriculture and the State 

 Horticultural Society; and I do not see how any intelligent person dare 

 assert that these publications and the work of these Societies or Depart- 

 ments have not greatly enhanced the material wealth of the State, so that 

 our taxes, upon which stress has bean laid, are much less than they would 

 have been without the existence of these bodies. 



It is generally admitted that valuable as are the agricultural reports 

 of the State, those of the State Horticultural Society are not a whit 

 behind them as promoters and incentives to progress in developing the 



