HON. MARSHALL P. WILDER. 15 



ward not a single horticultural society, in our land ; 

 now there are more than fifteen hundred of these 

 and similar associations recorded in the Department 

 of Agriculture at Washington. Then the products 

 of our soil were not deemed worthy of a place in the 

 statistics of our nation ; now we produce more than 

 two billions of bushels of grain, with a constant re- 

 serve sufficient to supply the deficiency of the Old 

 World. When I came to this city no steamship had 

 ever reached our shores; now there is not a day in 

 the year when many of them do not enter or depart 

 from our ports. But I need not prolong this strain 

 of remark. Suffice it to say that, in science, art, and 

 civilization, and in everything that pertains to the 

 comfort and happiness of mankind, the present age 

 is transcendently superior to any that has preceded it. 

 When I review the past history of our country and 

 look forward to its future greatness and glory, my soul 

 yearns for another fourscore and five years, that I 

 may see its two hundred millions of happy freemen 

 rejoicing in the blessings of liberty, peace, and union, 

 all united in one great circle of life and love ; one 

 in interest, one in destiny, one in a glorious union, 

 never to be broken, — 



" The union of lakes, the union of lands, 

 The union of States none can sever ; 

 The union of hearts, the union of hands. 

 And the Flacr of our Union forever ! " 



