and supporting it stands the great manufacturing interests of the 

 Commonwealth. In these industries $303,806,185 are invested. The 

 number of persons, male and female, young and old- employed is 

 352,254. The product of this labor was valued in 1880 at $631,- 

 135,284. For the education of these industrial classes in the land 

 and in the mill more than $21,663,000 is invested in school build- 

 ings ; the amount of money raised for school purposes is $4,696,612 

 in addition to the vast sums devoted to her colleges and higher in- 

 stitutions of learning. 



From this Dr. Loring passed to a consideration of agriculture as 

 a national industry. He recognized the fact that it lies at the 

 foundation of state and society in every country, and especially in 

 our own, where for many years it was almost our only industry, 

 supplying us with our revenues and feeding and clothing the strong- 

 men who gave us our nationality. It was a cluster of agricultural 

 colonies which secured our independence. The citizen proprie- 

 tors of the soil of America have learned to defend their rights, and 

 they struck for their freedom long before their associate industries 

 had gained a foothold upon these shores. It was the " embattled 

 farmer," who as the poet tells us, " fired the shot heard round the 

 world." And having laid the foundation of our republic, they pur- 

 sued their calling with diligence and success, and gave us a strong 

 and honorable community, renowned for courage, honor, integrity, 

 and fidelity. It was this almost universal industry, connected with 

 small commerce, which enabled an economical and prudent people 

 to set an example of financial honor, which has not yet been for- 

 gotten. When Mr. Jefferson closed his career as presideut of the 

 United States, he was congratulated by the legislature of Virginia, 

 through the mouth of the illustrious William Wirt, that he had suc- 

 ceeded in paying $30,000,000 of the national debt. The power to 

 do this came largely from the land. Manufacturers had no exist- 

 ence. The rivers washed down their falls and rapids unhindered to 

 the sea. Cotton manufacturers were unknown. Woolen cloth was 

 woven by the industrious mothers and sisters on looms, for which a 

 room was always provided in a well organized household. Flax was 

 grown and linen made. But neither manufactures nor the mechan- 

 ic arts gave employment to our people, nor revenue to the State. 

 The power of the nation consisted in the stout hearts of the far- 

 mers, and the wealth of the nation consisted in the successful ap- 

 plication of their skill to the soil. They farmed under great ad- 

 vantages it is true. The soil was fertile, and the harvests were great. 



