200 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



nary studies; and the}' will delight in Icarnin*^ the use of arms, company 

 and battalion evolutions, and in observing discipline. These are the ele- 

 ments of successful soldier}'. By moans of them, implanted by the 

 instruction of our schools and colleges, our youth may be so trained that 

 when another war shall threaten or assail our land, the call for volun- 

 teers will rally to our standard, not a mass of raw recruits, soldiers only 

 in spirit, but intelligent, enthusiastic, drilled masses of troops, scarcely 

 inferior to a regular army in etticiency, and superior to it in moral char- 

 acteristics. 



I have treated this subject in its practical aspect, as the occasion 

 seemed to demand. To many, the em])loyment of large sums of money 

 to organize and maintain such an institution will seem useless expendi- 

 ture. It may also be urged with force that the State is already largely 

 burdened with debt, and should practice strict and even parsimonious 

 economy, until its debts are paid. There is an element of truth in the 

 latter objection, and perhaps enough to determine the Legislature 

 against 'the enterprise. But I believe the real interest of the State, even 

 its monetary prosperity, will be so greatly advanced by the successful 

 workings of such an institution, that the return will be manifold above 

 the expenditure. We cannot afford to neglect any means of improve- 

 ment on this coast. We have capacities for development here far ex- 

 ceeding the most ambitious statement. Our mines are practically 

 exhaustless, and will be liberal of wealth on full development. Our 

 geographical ])Osition, aided by rapid communication across the conti- 

 nent, will make tributary to us that vast commerce now awaiting inlet, 

 and which flows as naturally in currents as rivers run to the sea, Avher- 

 ever it flows depositing riches. The carava<ns that traversed the East, 

 carrying the trade of the Orient to the Mediterranean, built cities of 

 palaces, and made empires great in power and opulence. Our agricul- 

 tural domain lies open to enterprise, and is capable of feeding the 

 thronging millions who will inlierit this fair empire. Our mountain 

 streams await the busy machinery that will ply upon their banks; and 

 all the great industries that maintain powerful communities will be set 

 in motion here to meet the necessities of the growing future. With such 

 a destiny before our State, shall we neglect the means that will guide 

 these results to the happiest consummation, and make those who come 

 after us worthy of their inheritance, and able to secure it? Shall scien- 

 tific knowledge be the only essential element of success that we shall 

 not possess? Or shall we be content with sending a few of our children 

 to the East or to Europe to procure the necessary instruction which our 

 inditterence or false economy denies them at home? Such is not the 

 true policy for this State. \Ve should attract men of culture and expe- 

 rience. We should secure original thinkers, men of genius, men of 

 research, to teach our youth and stimulate and guide the development 

 of our i-esources. That we may not lack a<lvanced minds to lead in the 

 race of ])rogress, we should aim to develojj intellect and true manhood 

 here. It is better to exhaust all our wealth than to let the public heart 

 decay or the public mind become attenuated. That State is greatest, 

 though poor, where man is noblest, where labor is intelligent and free, 

 and dignified with virtue. 



" ' Tis yonr's to jud.ije how -wide the limits stand 

 Between a splendid iiiul a haiipy land." 



This age is marked by the progression of thought, and we must not 

 be content to remain outside of the current. More is required of public 



