204 STATE BOAED OF AGEICULTUKE. 



But the great difference between the farmer here and his equivalent, the 

 laborer in Europe, is the grand, glorious, and transcendent fact that he is an 

 American citizen, vested with rights that make him a ruler, — a sovereign Avithin 

 his own propriety. It is this fact of superiority which startles other nations, and 

 causes them to look on with amazement at the progress already made, and a 

 vast amount of incredulity as to what the result of it all shall be. Can tue 

 'make all people, of whatever occujyation, intelligent citizens, is the j^rollem. 



There are some facts contained in the statistics of this country which bear 

 upon the subject we are to discuss, and for a moment let us consider them. 



According to the census report of the United States for 1870 the population 

 over ten years of age is 28,228,945. Of this number, those engaged in some 

 occuiiation amount to 12,505,923. There are engaged \\\ agriciilture 5,922,471 ; 

 very nearly half of the employed inhabitants of the country. Is it not desirable 

 that these should wield an influence commensurate with their intelligence and 

 numerical importance? These tables unjustly state that the number of unem- 

 ploy 3d females is 12,133,791. This places the wives of those men engaged in 

 some pursuit among those who are unproductive. But the wife and daughter 

 of the farmer are equally entitled to be placed among the productive elements 

 of society, and future statistics should recognize this fact. 



In this State, according to the census of 1874, just issued, 106,614 persons 

 are engaged in agriculture, out of a total of employed persons of 358,280, — 

 nearly half, it will be perceived. There are engaged in professional and per- 

 sonal service in this State 83,886; in trade and transportation 28,973; in 

 manufactures 70,581 ; in mining 5,782. There is but one who boldly declares 

 himself a middleman, and but one who calls himself a pettifogger ; and neither 

 of these were reported from the county of Branch ! There are 1,563 persons 

 who consider themselves qualified to act the jjart of legal counselors, while there 

 are 1,759 clergymen and 176 editors, — enough, it will be seen, to o3set the evil 

 which the lawyers may work in society. 



Agriculture in this country possesses still another element of strength besides 

 that of numbers : it is the strength of capital (provided all their debts are paid). 

 But the law recognizes it all as his, by making the real-estate owner pay taxes 

 on what he owes as much as on what is his in actual right, — an injustice, surely. 



The value of the farms of this nation, as estimated in 1870, was 559,262,803,- 

 861. This is the real estate ; while the capital invested in implements amounts 

 to $330,878,429, and the value of live stock is set down at |;544,180,510. This 

 makes a grand total of 110,143,862,800. The value of farm productions during 

 the same year was estimated at 82,447,538,658. 



With these figures before iis, — so vast that our minds cannot comprehend 

 them, — is it not proof sufficient that the agriculture of this nation should be 

 accorded the front rank in its industrial and commercial importance, while the 

 numbers engaged in this pursuit entitle it to a more generous recognition at the 

 hands of all other business and professional men? Does it not also sliow that 

 this greatest of all professions deserves a higher degree of respect, not merely from 

 all other classes of society, but from those who are engaged in it? In a most 

 important sense a man's profession is just what he makes it. If he chooses to 

 dishonor it by his acts, so far his calling may be in disgrace. But it does not 

 depend upon one man. The average character of the men engaged in it makes 

 the profession lionorable or dishonorable. We think the time has come in the 

 history of agriculture in this country when those engaged in it are determined 

 that the profession shall be elevated into the rank of the learaed professions, 

 and this feeling is reaching down into the mind of the average farmer. This is 



