TRUE RELATION OF SCIENCE TO INDUSTRIES 277 



is filled with a false and dangerous pride who maintains 

 that any science or art has attained its perfect develop- 

 ment. In such self-satisfaction are always found the 

 roots of decay. True, much has been accomplished, 

 but much yet remains to be done. We may then pro- 

 pose as the chief theme of this essay, " Science, the 

 guardian of industry and art." And, first: What are 

 some of the ways in which this guardian care is to be 

 exercised? First, I will answer, science must furnish 

 an educated body of workmen. Industrial education 

 is the first great duty of the State. Congress never 

 enacted a wiser law than that which set apart a certain 

 portion of the public domain for the purpose of encour- 

 aging agricultural land, technical education in the vari- 

 ous States. 



It would be out of place here to criticize the disposi- 

 tion which has been made of this munificent gift. It 

 would be easy to point out blunders and mistakes. 

 Blunders arising from lack of judgment and mistakes 

 arising from ignorance. What is to be considered now 

 is the intention of this grant. And this certainly was 

 of the best. The great demand of our country, rich in 

 reality, rich a thousand times in near possibilities, is 

 educated craftsmen. In our eagerness to get wealth, 

 in the wild exuberance of our growth we have neglected 

 too much the demands which the near future will have 

 upon us. Our fields will not always be fertile without 

 fertilizers ; gold will not always be found in the river 

 sands, to be had for the collecting; we cannot always 

 look to Europe for the finest works of skill. This 

 country is too large, its wants too gigantic, to be sup- 

 plied by foreign hands. 



Science therefore comes forward and offers her help 

 in giving to the youth of the land a technical education. 



