288 Promotion of Sdentijic Agricultui^e. [June, 



at the present time, whatever may be said of the elevating influences 

 that have as yet been brought to bear upon it in our own country. 

 For farmers now, in their tiggregatc capacity, may be said to be an 

 immense political machine in the hands of a few men of intelligence, 

 and through this machine the educated few shape the policy and manage 

 the affairs of our government. Any demagogue that knows enough to 

 flatter their prejudices against wealth and aristocracy, and laud them as 

 the bold and uncorrupted yeomanry, is entitled to crawl into power and 

 use it for his own rather than his country's good. Give this class but 

 the intellectual training which a thorough knowledge of their business 

 would secure, and the reign of demagogues and political mountebanks 

 would be over. Now every other interest is better cared for than theirs, 

 and has more ample protection and patronage from the general govern- 

 ment, and that, too, in face of the fact that this class is the numerical 

 majority and their business most essential to the prospeiity of all. Not 

 only would the enlightenment of this class give them increased political 

 influence for good, but it would impart a luster to our entire social inter- 

 ests and condition, and give a mental and moral elevation far beyond 

 anything hitherto known or experienced ; and we would thereby dignify 

 labor in the only way by which it can be rationally accomplished. It is 

 mind that controls matter. It is mind, educated mind, that governs the 

 world. It is this that imparts a loveliness to the landscape, and 

 sprinkles beauty as from an urn over all the universe. It is not in the 

 light of setting suns, nor in the bright beams of morning that beauty 

 dwells, but in the thinking, reasoning mind. It is this mind educated, 

 its energies rightly directed, its tastes improved and refined, that must 

 dignify and ennoble any pursuit ; and no place or work can long exalt 

 him who is unworthy the reverence which his calling may demand. 



America is now teaching the world a lesson with regard to popular 

 sovereignty and man's inalienable rights. Among the people of all 

 nations the popularity of American institutions is now great, and their 

 influence is increasing. The corrupt aiistocracies and titled governments 

 of the older nations hate and revile that influence which undermines the 

 foundations of their power. The people are acquiring information in 

 rehition to their rights and their dignity as men, which no other govern- 

 ment than ours, on earth, can teach them. Now all must see as if written 

 with a sunbeam, that there must, if the results we hope for, that we 

 expect, shall be realized, that there must be a lifting up of the indus- 

 trial classes to a new position and placing them in a better relation to 

 manhood and to humanity than they have ever occupied. This process 

 of the emancipation of human labor must undoubtedly go forward to 



