318 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



OPENING ADDRESS. 



DELIVERED BEFORE THE UPPER SACRAMENTO AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, 

 SEPTEMBER TWENTY-SIXTH, EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND SIXTY-NINE. 



By General JOHN B1DWELL, President. 



Members of the Upper Sacramento Agricultural Society, and Ladies and 

 Gentlemen : On occasions like this it is customary, as you are aware, for 

 the presiding officer to deliver an opening address, dilating upon the 

 importance of agriculture and portraying in glowing terms the resources 

 of the country, present and prospective; but I have neither time nor 

 inclination to enter upon, much less perform such a task; nor do I 

 believe that you, under the circumstances, desire such at my hands. 



Officers of an agricultural society, if they discharge their duties as 

 they should, occupy anything but sinecure positions. No amount of 

 smooth words, or lazy good humor, or self-laudation will suffice to fill 

 the chasm of inefficiency. The}' must work — that is the word, work — 

 and triumph or fall by their work. Active, earnest, efficient work knows 

 no such word as fail. And, my friends, it is a glorious circumstance that 

 we live in an age of universal activity — in a country of liberty and pro- 

 gress, where it is no disgrace to toil. We should recognize labor as the 

 foundation of prosperity; and no man can plead as an excuse that it is 

 not honorable to work; but all ought to work, with hands or head, 

 people and officers alike. It is not enough for members of such a society 

 to elect officers, resolve to hold a fair, and then fold their arms and say 

 all is done. But, pardon the comparison of small with great things, 

 how long would our government, or any other free government, last 

 without the active sympathy and support of the people? Expenses 

 must be paid, and moral and material forces bi*ought into requisition. 

 The life of a society like this, as that of a nation, depends on the exis- 

 tence and efficiency of these essential conditions. When a government 

 or society is organized, it has but just begun its career. Sympathy and 

 material support are its vital atmosphere. As " eternal vigilance is the 

 price of liberty," so is earnest and ceaseless effort the price of success. 

 For the two preceding years, the local or Butte County Agricultural 

 Fairs were temporarily provided with a structui-e dignified with the 

 name of Pavilion. The plan of annually building up and tearing down 

 was deemed by the present officers unwise and not to be continued. It 

 was believed that prominent and enterprising citizens of adjoining coun- 

 ties would come to our aid and do much to promote the object and 



