184 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



enough to maintain the laws which they may pass ; a class 

 not rich enough to constitute a purse-proud but weak minor- 

 ity, whose strength is only in their wealth, nor poor enough 

 to constitute a class dependent on the more wealthy for 

 means of a livelihood. It must rest on those with property 

 to protect and homes of their own to cherish and defend. 

 It is not too much to say, that in the future, whatever may 

 have been the history of the past, civilization itself must 

 depend upon the strength of this middle class. All the 

 great men who advance civilization and shape the destinies 

 of the nation are now produced in this class. The men of 

 science, the writers, the discoverers, the inventors, very 

 nearly all the authors and poets, statesmen in peace and 

 generals in war, are born in this class. 



This country achieved its independence because of the 

 intelligence of this middle class, who had made farming 

 respectable as it was then in no other countrj^ of the world. 

 It has maintained its independence because of the advantages 

 and inducements it has oflered to this class ; it has made its 

 great material prosperity because it gave so many men a 

 chance to rise. The farms have produced a stalwart race of 

 educated men, whose early education in industry and thrift 

 has given us material prosperity, and whose independent 

 convictions have been the bulwark of our liberties. 



Much has lately been said implying that the ra[)id growth 

 of our national prosperity has been mainly due to the rela- 

 tive sparseness of our population. We all admit that this 

 has been a factor, but I do not for one moment think that it 

 has been the chief one. I believe that it is mainly due to 

 the character of our farming population. Our near neighbor, 

 Mexico, is surely rich in resources ; she had the start of us 

 in time of settlement, — with that start, why has she not 

 grown and overshadowed us ? With one of the most delight- 

 ful climates of the earth, why has she not drawn to her 

 the choice of intelligent and ambitious emigration? With 

 scenery ranking with the grandest on the globe, why are 

 there not more writers and poets developing amid her 

 scenery, and drawing inspiration from the glorious surround- 

 ings? For the very best of reasons ; her farmers are peas- 

 ants, — not an independent middle class, l)ut a dependent 



