126 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



OPENING ADDRESS 



OF PEESIDENT FINIGAN, DELIVERED AT THE PAVILION, TUESDAY EVENING, 



SEPTEMBER 11, 1883. 



Directors and Members of the State Agricultural Society: 

 This gathering of producers in the temple of agriculture, this mag- 

 nificent display of the fruits of intelligent industry, dates the begin- 

 ning of a new era in the progress of agriculture. Henceforth the 

 power and wealth of the State of California is pledged to sustain the 

 mother of all arts, agriculture, and the reinvigorated producers, 

 inspired by new hopes, will strive successfully to lift the grand art to 

 its legitimate place amongst the noblest forms of human industry. 



This day agriculture, the basis of all forms of human industry, 

 gathers around it the industrial and fine arts — all the varied fruits of 

 human ingenuity, and pointing to them, says: "Behold, my chil- 

 dren." And as agriculture becomes more intelligent and prosperous, 

 still other industries, now unknown, will spring from its loins, until 

 each human being shall be soothed with beneficent influences. 



Already do we see some of the grand results of agriculture in this 

 new State. Its cities and towns, its railroads, its manufactories, its 

 commerce, its schools, aye, even its governmental life — all draw their 

 sustenance from agriculture; for without agriculture none of them 

 could exist in permanent and healthy forms. 



But, while we eulogize agriculture; while we rejoice in its stupen- 

 dous achievements, as shown in the varied forms of human industry; 

 while we hopefully predict still grander achievements, we must 

 remember that the whole is an empty display, unless with these we 

 produce true men and women, capable of enjoying all the fruits of 

 agriculture, and of performing all the duties that man owes to man. 



Let us speak plainly of these matters, that we may. have some 

 worthy outcome from our efforts. 



Great, indeed, have been the results of agriculture; great in the 

 enrichment of human life; great in everything; but have the pro- 

 ducers gathered these enrichments of human life into their own 

 existence? If they have not, then have they permitted other classes 

 to obtain a mastery that should have belonged primarily to the pro- 

 ducers. 



We know full well that the farming class is sturdy, manly, vigorous 

 of thought, persistent in action, and, in the main, true to the best 

 interests of the human race; but, as a rule, all other classes have 

 gained more of the grand fruits that pertain to the enrichment of life, 

 and which spring from agriculture, than the farming class. 



I shall not criticise farm life for the sake of criticism, but I shall 

 speak of its defects, and consider its grand possibilities, because upon 

 the success- of its future improvement and development will depend 

 the social, moral, and political destinies of our people. 



