48i WISCONSIN AGEICULTUEE. 



that profound pliilosopTier and statesman, Cincinnatus, .from his 

 plow, and appoint him dictator for six months. At his country's 

 call he accepted the charge, raised an army, and in sixteen days 

 drove the invaders off. This done, away went Cincinnatus, 

 resigning his Dictatorship, and the next day he was on his farm, 

 no doubt ruminating in his profound mind on some new scheme 

 for increasing the productiveness of the soil, or, perhaps improv- 

 ing the appearance of his vicinity. 



Here we may find the true key to the success of those old re- 

 publics. While they exalted the occupation of cultivating the 

 soil, and paid their highest honors to their best men for their 

 success in agriculture, they were laying the foundation of that 

 greatness which it took so long for personal aspirants and selfish 

 minds to overthrow. 



Agriculture, and its concomitant arts, are peculiarly fitted to 

 give that energy and stability to the character of those who fol- 

 low them, which is ever the essential element leading to national 

 prosperity and strength. In every country of the present age 

 agriculture is the foundation of prosperity ; and such is the in- 

 fluence which the productiveness of the soil exerts in every 

 branch of industry, that a single year of total blight would near- 

 ly destroy the social fabric. Shut up mechanics' shops and fac- 

 tories, and merchants would fail, and commerce be suspended, 

 and the amount of human suffering could not be estimated. 



Thus it is that upon Farmers and Mechanics — of which you 

 form an integral part — depends the prosperity of the nation. 

 Might I not well congratulate you then upon this occasion — a 

 meeting which can but result in good to ourselves and our na- 

 tion. And while I do this — while I feel the responsibility of 

 addressing an audience of so much beauty and intelligence, and 

 upon such on occasion — I can but feel a want of ability to do 

 justice to the subject. 



Bear with me, fellow citizens, and what I may say that is 

 good in theory but yet new to practice, use your own good judg- 

 ment upon before adopting the views as correct. The world 

 does move with rapid strides toward improvement. The steps of 

 science are gigantic, and unless we would fall behind we must 



