64 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



and exhausting. But if we are true to ourselves, every year 

 will lighten labor and shorten its hours. And we call upon all 

 those who would lighten the burdens of the working-man, to 

 join with us to secure the conditions that shall double the effi- 

 ciency of every hour of labor. If every man would do his 

 share and there were no reckless waste of property, the hours 

 of labor would be diminished without the aid of law. Begin, 

 then, first of all I say, to secure the conditions of diminished 

 labor. Every school established, every criminal reformed, 

 every idler made industrious, every plan of sound economy in 

 the household, every treaty with foreign nations that averts the 

 danger of war, every workshop that supplies at home what was 

 once imported, either removes a burden from labor or gives 

 promise of its removal. 



See to it, then, that there shall be peace within our borders. 

 It will be long years before any foreign nation will indulge in 

 the costly pastime of measuring swords with us. If we are 

 true to ourselves and the principles of freedom and justice, no 

 more hostile troops will tread our borders till the present gen- 

 eration has passed away, if ever. See to it that vice meets a 

 swift punishment, that virtue may enjoy its own in safety. See 

 to it that education is everywhere provided for the young, — 

 education that shall guide and quicken industry, that shall 

 enable the farmer and artisan to press nature's forces into their 

 service. See to all this, and you have done what no laws can 

 do ; you have made all producers, you have multiplied your 

 powers by the agency of falling water and expanding steam, 

 you have stopped all useless destruction of products. Labor 

 is utilized because every blow is turned to the best advantage, 

 and every product rightly used. It may be impossible to reach 

 such a happy state of society, but it is something to be aimed 

 at. New England is already on the road. She has but to be 

 faithful to the church and the school-house, to her wise system 

 of agriculture and manufactures and commerce combined, and 

 she will continue in the van as she has thus far been. 



