1857.] Education — Centralization. ' 447 



anything been done ? Is it embraced in our system of education ? 

 Has, not the politician, but the general government, ever done any- 

 thing for the encouragement of the young agriculturist? I find 

 that during a period of seventy-five years, up to '55, $29,500 have 

 been appropriated to this cause, exclusive of the expense of pub- 

 lishing Patent Ofiice Reports ! How may millions, to hunt a few 

 Indians among the swamps of Florida ! ! 



What have our State Governments done? — and — but I forbear. 

 Our young men, their relation to the country, the Church, their 

 education and salvation, are themes of momentous interest. 



Now we icould not, if we coiild, neutralize all the causes that are 

 operating, and that will continue to operate in the eventuation of 

 these changes. Some of these causes are the results of a progress- 

 ive civilization, and they are as permanent as the forces by which 

 they are impelled into existence. Among these permanent causes 

 are, first, our great Railroad system: The thousands employed as 

 agents, sub-agents, car-builders, must have their home in the city. 



Second. Steam, when applied to the mechanical arts, is mainly 

 generated in the city ; here all the coal comes by which the fires 

 are kept up for creating steam, coal is a civilizer — so is steam — so 

 are Railways. No intelligent young man with his saw and chisel 

 will spend a whole day in making a shoe-maker's last, when by the 

 force of mind alone he can make these senseless agents accomplish 

 twenty times as much work, in a given number of hours. 



Again, owing to the advancement in the industrial arts, the farm- 

 ing throughout the country, to a considerable extent, is carried on by 

 those who reside in cities. The sowing, mowing, reaping, threshing, 

 is virtually done by men who eat and drink, toil and think in the 

 city and amid the hissing of steam, and the buzzing of machinery. 

 ;• Among transient causes wc have time only to refer to one or two. 



The increase of wealth in the hands of individuals lifting their 

 sons above the necessity of labor is a leading cause among those of 

 a transient nature. 



Amusements are more abundant in cities — Idleness is more pop- 

 ular — there are a thousand nameless attractions that draw young 

 men to the cities, and multitudes to ruin, that are only evil in their 

 workings, and issues that we denominate transient, becaus"^ there is 

 no valid reason why they should exist. To these the correction 

 should be applied. No man has a right to be idle C. N. M. 



