108 MICHIGAN STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 



I think I may add that on their effective co-operation depends 

 the full realization in the future of the high purposes for which 

 those acts were passed. 



After the Civil War the establishment of agricultural colleges 

 went steadily forward till such institutions, aided by the land 

 grants of the general government, had been erected in all of the 

 states, with eventually sixteen schools for colored students added 

 in the southern states. The association of these colleges was 

 organized, the Hatch acts brought new aid from the general 

 government for the maintenance of experiment stations, the 

 second Morrill Act added its large federal appropriations for the 

 furtherance of the ordinary work of the colleges, the summer 

 graduate school was organized, the Adams Act provided for 

 advanced research in agriculture, and finally the Nelson amend- 

 ment to the agricultural appropriation bill of 1907 has brought 

 still larger financial support to the colleges, together with per- 

 missive provision for the use of a part of the federal grant in the 

 training of teachers of agriculture. It is a record of notable 

 advance, and we can hardly doubt that the great heart of Wash- 

 ington would have been glad to see the results that we may see 

 today. 



When we attempt to interpret the course of this educational 

 development and to plan for further advance, we need the help 

 of some general conceptions relating to our social organization. 

 For it is evident that agricultural education cannot be a thing 

 apart and alone. Its real and lasting strength is to be found in 

 its connection with general education. And the strength of 

 general education and of all of its special developments is to be 

 found in the connection of the schools with the real life of our 

 people. 



Passing over all other views of our democracy, however 

 essential and interesting they may be, permit me to call attention 

 just now to the function of those who are called leaders in a 

 democratic society. For we now commonly recognize the fact 



