contented agriculture; for without such institu- 

 tions agriculture will decline until on a level with 

 the peasantry of other and less favored countries. 

 For just in proportion as agriculture advances or 

 declines will the prosperity of the people rise or 

 fall, and the integrity of our government be stable 

 or questionable. This fact has been clearly demon- 

 strated in the history of nations ; hence, steward- 

 ship of the soil embraces not only conservation of 

 its fertility, but the fostering of such social in- 

 stitutions and educational forces as may be neces- 

 sary to support a rural civilization that will min- 

 ister to all the physical, mental and spiritual wants 

 of a highly intellectual and permanent population. 

 Said James A. Garfield : ^ 



"The higher education of the village and city 

 youth, together with a modicum of the country 

 youth, with only the fifth to eighth grade for the 

 best blood of the state may stand for the edu- 

 cator's ideals, but it is bad for the country as a 

 whole. It tends to make aristocrats of the poorest 

 and slaves of the best blood. Education is for 

 all, not for a favored few." 



The Morrill Act. The Morrill Act of 1862 was 

 the first important step toward the emancipation 

 of agriculture. The establishment of the Land 

 Grant Colleges was the biggest piece of construc- 

 tive legislation that Congress has enacted during 

 the past century. By means of higher education 

 thus redirected and vitalized, industrial inde- 

 pendence will ultimately be realized. But the work 

 moves slowly. However, in spite of ridicule and 

 unmerited handicaps, and even the contempt of 

 too many of the farming class, these institutions 

 have grown steadily in influence and power. 



The North Dakota Agricultural College directs 

 its energies toward a system of education that at 

 once affords all the means of culture and character 



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