280 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



It is a commendable thing to vote aright ; or, with ample 

 measure of caution, not to vote wrong. But the act of 

 voting is a choice of alternatives ; and it is a matter of the 

 highest importance that the issues upon which one is to vote 

 be formed aright. The farmer should do his full part, not 

 only in contributing by his vote to the success of the party 

 of his choice at the polls, but also in the more important 

 work of influencing the course which his party shall take, 

 and determining the attitude which it shall assume with ref- 

 erence to great questions of public policy. I think we may 

 go farther than this, and of right may, and in duty ought, to 

 insist upon reasonable and just recognition in the distribu- 

 tion of the honors and emoluments of public station. 



The most eflfective administration of the business of gov- 

 ernment may require that in a great number of positions, 

 whose occupants are strictly employees, and whose duties 

 are ministerial or mechanical, skill and experience in the 

 performance of these duties shall be prime qualifications ; 

 and, so far, an office-holding class may be recognized. But, 

 so far as those positions are concerned which really direct 

 the policy of the government, no office-holding class can be 

 tolerated in a government " of the people, for the people, 

 by the people." And no great class of citizens can be 

 refused a reasonable recognition in the distribution of these 

 positions, without wrong to itself and injury to the interests 

 it is set to guard. No such class has any business to sub- 

 mit to this exclusion. Without question, it is the privilege 

 not only, but the duty as well, of the farmers, to use the 

 power which their numbers give to secure for themselves 

 recognition in public station, as well as to give right direc- 

 tion to public policy. I rejoice to see, in the formation of 

 local political clubs of a permanent character, a movement 

 toward a more orderly and responsible direction of party 

 action. Through the machinery of these clubs, where they 

 exist, and through such other agencies as may be available, 

 I urge farmers to take that share in the direction of public 

 afiairs to which their numbers and importance entitle them. 



How shall I treat the relation of the farmer to religious 

 associations ? I do not stand upon this platform to preach 

 to you. I do not wish to impose my theology upon any one, 



