8 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



in the cities. Take it in our own Commonwealth, and if the 

 proportions remain the same as in 1885, we have about fifty- 

 six per cent of the popuhition in our cities. 



Now, if American civilization breaks down, it will be in 

 our cities. In New York City it did break down. All that 

 saves New York City to tolcrableness is the fact that it is 

 ruled measurably at Albany, in the State Legislature. Local 

 popular government has become there impossible. The rural 

 vote, the farmer's vote, helps check the corruption. Chicago, 

 we are glad to note, rises up in some of her exigencies in a 

 masterful manner, and lays an unequivocal hand upon 

 anarchism and murder. But the uncorrupted and incorrupt- 

 ible yeomanry of America are to be the reserve force ready 

 to come to the front, after having governed well your own 

 townships, and repress, through State laws, and if need be 

 through State officers, municipal evils which cannot be con- 

 trolled by the inhabitants of the cities. You are to be the 

 counterpoise of metropolitan corruption. Do you raise the 

 question, "Does not State interference with municipal afiairs 

 contravene and subvert the principles of popular govern- 

 ment?" Yes, if by popular government we mean narrowly 

 local government in individual towns and cities. But no, 

 when we mean by it the people of a whole State, the cities 

 included. The whole people are made the arbiters of con- 

 ditions in their whole domain ; and in emergency we must 

 resort to the will of the whole people, or under municipal 

 misrule come to ruin. It is an admitted dictum in national 

 jurisprudence, that "necessity knows no law." If in our 

 republic the people do not on exigent occasion rule the cities, 

 the cities will both rule and ruin the republic. 



I estimate the agricultural vote of the United States to 

 approach one-half of the total vote. If it be so, you hold 

 not only the balance of civil power, but, in connection with 

 the contingent you are sure to get from the cities, you hold 

 the power itself. 



Mr. Bryce, in his "American Commonwealth," pens this 

 ominous sentence: "There is no denying that the govern- 

 ment of cities is the one conspicuous failure of the United 

 States." I commend that to you, and those you represent, 

 for consideration. It is within the power of your class to 



