FARMEES' INSTITUTES. 209 



every ungraceful niovenient, and t]iat their i)resence would be -welcome because 

 of their actual worth as useful as well as ornamental members of society? 



The children in the family should thus be given opportunities for improve- 

 ment. Society will be elevated as the average knowledge and refinement of the 

 family is advanced. The family represents the intelligence and virtue of the 

 parents with any increment that may be added by outward contact with other 

 people. The virtues of society are represented not by the highest^ but by the 

 average between the truly good and tlie Avofully bad ; and this average must be 

 raised by the increase of the average intelligence. Here the power and influ- 

 ence of the parent are felt for good or ill. Here the family becomes the sacred 

 power behind tlie throne Avhich sliall save or ruin the State. In this relation 

 all classes of men — the farmer, tlie merchant, tlic lawyer, and the banker, as 

 well as the minister — should feel that they are called upon to exert the best and 

 noblest influences. Then will this mieasy, discontented spirit, caused by a 

 desire to acquire knowledge and retinement, be satisfied: and tlie young man 

 and young wonnm vv-ill remain on the farm contented because they know they 

 are met in the spirit of true appreciation by all people. 



It is a very natural and easy transposition to speak of the farmer's duty to his 

 family, and then of his duty to the State. As the families of the State are 

 governed, so will society itself be re:-trained. In like manner v»-ill the laws of 

 the State bear the impress of the training which has been received at home. 

 Society weakens as knowledge and morality lose their hold upon the individual 

 afl'ections of the masses. 



In this nation it rests with the intelligent, moral, and conscientious class of 

 society to carry forward and perfect the work of civilization. Demagogues do 

 not attempt to mislead this class. They appeal always to ignorance or some 

 prejudice. They get hold of the weak point of a man's mind, and dwarf his 

 judgment by encouraging his illusions. AV'ithout moral principle or unflinching 

 integrity themselves, they care not whether they be consistent in their views 

 before their fellow men. 



It is plain, then, th^at one duty the farmer owes society is tliat he sluill heartily 

 help to sustain the very means which this nation has adopted to dispel ignorance 

 and disseminate knowledge, — the Common School. I believe I speak under- 

 standingly when I aftirm that people generally, — and farmers are no excep- 

 tion to the rule, — act more stingily, and pay more grudgingly for educating 

 their children than for any other investment they make. They will lay out 

 hundreds and tliousands of dollars in stock and outside improvements, hoping 

 thereby to realize some profit ; Ijut wlien it comes to building a commodious and 

 suitable school-house, or the employment of a competent teacher, they will east 

 their eyes around to see if in some corner they cannot lop off this and that con- 

 venience, or if it bo not possible to get a teacher with a good deal less learning 

 and ability for a little less money. They do not see any return in money on the 

 investment. It may be that they never will ; but most often those lessons and 

 experiences in this world are most valuable to us which pecuniarily yield the 

 least returns. ISTotwithstanding this, in proportion to the amount of kuovvledge 

 and skill we furnish the young by training, vre increase their power to properly 

 use whatever they may acquire, and add to their influence for good and their 

 usefulness in society. 



If there is any question in which we should take an interest, it is this. The 

 capacity of the common schools to impart instruction should be increased. The 

 best qualified teachers are none too good for our district schools. We want 



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