;[1(J LINCOLN SOCIETY. 



I^roduccs tlic necessaries of life with little or no labor. Labor 

 is a condition of prosperity and happiness, and the physical 

 development which it necessarily produces, is sure to increase 

 mental activity. Where there is no want, there will be no 

 laboring class, no progress; no improvement. Where there 

 is no necessity for industry, where the growth of the neces- 

 saries of life is spontaneous, where to-day is relieved from all 

 care for to-morrow, there, of course, will be indolence, and im- 

 becility, witli all the family of vices of which they arc the 

 legitimate parents. Man is naturally lazy, and is only stimu- 

 lated to action by necessity, in order to procure the necessaries- 

 of life, or to indulge his appetite, gratify his pride, ambition and 

 love of power. When it was pronounced upon man that he 

 should " procure his bread by the sweat of his brow," it was 

 not a curse, but a blessing, intended as a necessary and all im- 

 portant stimulus to action ; a condition absolutely necessary, to 

 prevent the physical degeneration and mental imbecility that 

 would necessarily follow a life of indolence and inactivity. 



There is no pursuit of life, viewed either as a source of indi- 

 vidual profit and independence, of national wealth and strength, 

 or of universal enjoyment, that can equal that of agriculture. 

 The merchant may increase his stores and riches, may surround 

 his home and estates with luxuries ; the mariner may visit for- 

 eign lands, may gather the products of every clime, may exchange 

 the growth of one country for that of another, get in return for 

 the solid waters of the frigid zone the delicious and melting 

 fruits of the tropics ; the antiquarian may decipher the history 

 of past ages, and become familiar with the hieroglyphics of the 

 ancients ; or the astronomer may discover new planets, point 

 out their direction, and accurately measure the time of their 

 revolution; but these advantages and pleasures arc enjoyed by 

 but few, compared with the whole mass, while the result of 

 agricultural labor is, to a great extent, the common property of 

 all. While none are so rich as not to require the products of 

 thi^ labor, there are none so poor but they can honestly appro- 

 priate to their own use, much of the hard earned rewards of the 

 husbandman without money and without price. 



View the scenery in a well cultivated farming district in the 

 growing season, when the clouds, rain and sun are shedding 



