THE GREAT CENTENNIAL. 137 



THIRD DAY. 



The Board met at ten o'clock, and was called to order by 

 Dr. LoRiNG. Dr. Wakefield, of Monson, was elected 

 Chairman for the day. 



Hon. Leverett Saltonstall. I wish, before the regular 

 proceedings of the morning, as there may be no other oppor- 

 tunity, to say a word which is of some consequence to the 

 farmers of Massachusetts, in regard to the approaching Cen- 

 tennial. Having the honor to be a commissioner of Massa- 

 chusetts, and also a member of this Board, I take advantage 

 of my double position to do some Centennial work. It will 

 take but a very few moments to say all I wish to. Among 

 the important exhibits which ought to be made at the Cen- 

 tennial is an exhibit of the agricultural interests of Massachu- 

 setts. It is a matter of great importance to the State, of 

 great concern to us, in point of state pride, as well as of 

 patriotic feeling, that Massachusetts should be well repre- 

 sented. I know that the farmers of Massachusetts do not 

 wish to see this great celebration of our nation's hundredth 

 birthday pass without some manifestation on their part of 

 their interest in it. It will be a celebration exceedino: in 

 grandeur anything of its kind that has ever occurred in the 

 world, commemorating, as it does, an occasion w^hich is, per- 

 haps, the greatest epoch in history — the hundredth birthday 

 of the Republic — proving that we, the people of the United 

 States, are able to govern ourselves without the aid of 

 princes or kings. Now, gentlemen, I come to this point — 

 the agricultural exhibit of Massachusetts. We do not pre- 

 tend that Massachusetts, as a State, can vie with the Western 

 States, or with the Pacific States, in agricultural products ; 

 but we have certain valuable agricultural interests here. If 

 not, why are we taking part in these proceedings? Why is 

 the State maintaining a Board of Agriculture at some exi^ense 

 every year, if it is not for the purpose of advancing the agri- 

 cultural interests of Massachusetts? Have we nothing to 

 exhibit in Philadelphia? Are we going to permit the manu- 

 facturers, the mechanics and artisans of Massachusetts to 



18 



