FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 123 



THE FARMER AS A CITIZEN. 



HON. CYRUS G. LUCE, COLDWATER. 



The nest address was by ex-Governor Luce of Coldwater, on the 

 "Farmer as a Citizen." He spolce without notes and made a very effec- 

 tive and interesting address. His remarks were as follows: 



"It is a great office to be an American citizen. No other nation im- 

 poses such privileges upon a citizen. These educators who have spoken 

 have been properly and royally loyal. And so I want to be. If any man 

 thinks I exalt the farmer too high he should remember that I am a repre- 

 sentative of the farmers. 



"Governments have been in existence before today. The first was the 

 family government. Adam didn't set that up as soon as he should have 

 and didn't train his children right. But it was the first. Since then 

 governments have come down in rapid succession. Some rulers drew 

 their power from God by divine right. Military chieftains have gone 

 forth and won victories over their enemies and returned home to set up 

 governments to glorify them. But our fathers set up different govern- 

 ment. It stirs my heart with pride when I think of the struggles they 

 underwent to establish this. Every American wears a crown brigliter 

 than that of the Czar of all the Russias. No other nation has reached 

 the heights in conferring power on the citizen as has the United States. 

 None has been quite so broad or relied so much on the patriotism of its 

 citizens. 



"What peculiar duties has the farmer as a citizen? In what does he 

 discharge his duties? 



"Two qualifications of the good citizen are mentioned in the great ordi- 

 nance of 1787, religion and morality, and education. I maintain there 

 are three essential qualifications of the good citizen. The first is moral- 

 ity, i. e., virtue, justice, integrity. The next is ability. This ability to 

 discharge one's duty is obtained in various ways and comes from various 

 sources. Another equal to these is religion. Perhaps this should over- 

 shadow them all, but I place them equal. The last one, and one as 

 important as the rest, is industry. 



"I place great stress on industry. Work is the salvation of the family, 

 of the locality, and of the nation. How could Prof. Smith have made 

 this Institute such a success, unless he were a mighty worker? Work 

 comes in as one of the leading qualities of a millionaire. I have always 

 regarded Webster as the greatest man America has ever produced. 

 What would Daniel Webster have amounted to without work? At six 

 months of age he was as any otlier man of the same age. He was able 

 to take care of himself by supplying himself with the necessaries of life. 

 And he applied this occupation with such persistency and energy that 

 he attained great success. Another great man was Abraham Lincoln. 

 Added to his ability were work and unflagging industry. No citizen 

 who is lazy is discharging his duty to the state. I have always been 

 a terrific worker and if I can make any claims it is to industry. The 

 farmer must work or starve. A lazy farmer may roll around and get 

 along. And his friends will burv him when he dies. But don't call 



