THE DIGNITY OF INTELLIGENT LABOR. 



INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF A. S. DYCKMAN. PRESIDENT OF THE MICHIGAN 



STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY, DELIVERED AT LANSING, IN THE 



HALL OF REPRESENTATIVES, JANUARY 21st, 1873. 



Gentlemen" : — It has ever proved to be a wise statesmanship, that has pro- 

 tected and encouraged the productive industries of a country. 



This historic idea seems now to enter into the counsels of all civilized 

 governments, — so instead of Gladiatorial Games, and grand Tournaments, we 

 have our " World's Exposition." presenting an aggregation of the most brilliant 

 triumphs of labor and constructive genius. 



Bringing the characteristic productions of each, come the representatives of 

 all climes, to swell the magnificent pageant, in honor of the arts of peace. The 

 princes of the earth become patrons of labor, vie in munificence, and conde- 

 scend to grace the occasion with their presence. 



In short, the world seems about to recognize that all true prosperity of the 

 State must rest upon the foundation oi free and intelligeyit labor. 



In our republican system, where labor controls the sovereignty, we should 

 have every facility for the growth of these elements of national greatness. 



Fully to comprehend our needs, in this respect, we must first understand, 

 that what distinguishes our civilization from primitive barbarism — the con- 

 crete body, so to speak, of our civilization — subsists not in the earth, — not in 

 the air, — not in dead matter, — but in the mind, — in that mysterious receptacle 

 of thought, where are garnered the rich treasures of experience; wliere the 

 facts and deductions of science are made practical ; and where reside the Genii 

 that direct the operations of the material world to so many useful purposes. 



The thought in the mind, must precede its application in practice. To 

 improve the earth culture, the great pre-requisite is brain culture. You may 

 develop only muscle, and turn out a pugilist ; but jou cannot produce a 

 farmer. 



In this field of operations, the essential materials are at hand, the muscular 

 development is sufiicient, but we want the wisdom to direct the vital forces of 

 nature to the best results. 



We have to consider this idea in relation "to husbandry, an important branch 

 of which is Pomology, 



Perhaps there may yet be an occasional "Deacon Homespun" among 

 farmers, who thinks he is a farmer by force of habit. — or by a sort of instinct — 

 or that the operations on the farm proceed by a sort of spontaneous evolution, 

 and who scouts the idea of scientific farming. 



