THE MODEL PRODUCTIVE STATE. 29 



Fellow citizens of Worcester, to such a condition the State 

 has attained under a long reign of industry and peace. Hitherto 

 we have assembled at this season of the year to commemorate 

 tliese results under the happy auspices of domestic tranquillity, 

 — under the silver horn of the harvest or the hunter's moon, — 

 looking forward to nothing more exciting than the greetings of 

 Thanksgiving or the vespers of Christmas. But the resources 

 and treasures of this political and social system are now brought 

 to the test of a new call and a more solemn consecration. The 

 life of our government is in peril ; it has been in peril through 

 three afflictive years, and let no man lay the flattering illusion 

 to his heart that it is yet by any means out of peril. And the 

 problem is tin'own upon us to solve, whether in these cultures 

 and prosperities the qualities of a sturdy stock of MEiSf have 

 become diluted and lost, or whether the traditional and historic 

 prestige still abides in our hearts, and we will rise, ourselves 

 and our resources, to the greatness of the exigency. There can 

 be no doubt as to the solution of the question. This industrial 

 system, which has poured imperial riches into the lap of the 

 State, has also been the school and discipline of character. It 

 has made the Commonwealth the theatre of manly action, and 

 high enterprise, and heroic purpose ; it has inspired the hearts 

 of her sons with generous hope, and triumphant faith, and 

 patriotic affection towards that radiant flag which is the symbol 

 of their success and glory. Such a people may be safely trusted, 

 not only to take care of themselves at home, but to hold out in 

 defence of the public liberties. Sustained and invigorated by 

 such a system of industry, exercised in every form of toil, 

 practiced in every department of skill and art, the people of 

 Massachusetts are able, as they are willing, to defend the gov- 

 ernment which has so long protected them, and they will defend 

 it, henceforth and forever. They have learned the value of this 

 Union, — which has developed their resources; which has re- 

 claimed and fertilized their lands and erected workshops on a 

 thousand water-falls ; which has rewarded their labor with the 

 largest profits and with the highest honors ;■ which has mad(i 

 their homes the entrenchments of plenty and frugality and 

 virtue ; which has associated the graves of their ancestors with 

 the treasured memories of the Revolution and the Constitution ; 

 and they send their sons and brothers, they go forth themselves, 



