140 AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS. 



facturing enterprise, and in the growth of villages, towns, and cities 

 marvellous in its expansion ; with the rapid accumulation of colossal for- 

 tunes in the hands of the few ; why, instead of the happy song of peace, 

 contentment, and plenty, which should bless the homes of the farmer 

 and laborer of the country, should we hear the constant and universal 

 wail of "hard times"? To solve this significant and vital question in 

 the light of equity, justice, and truth, is the underlying principle, the 

 holy mission and inspiration, of this, the greatest industrial revolution of 

 the ages. 



To restore and maintain that equipoise between the great industrial 

 interests of the country, which is absolutely essential to a healthful prog- 

 ress and to the development of our civilization, is a task which should 

 enlist the minds and energies of all patriotic people a task as stupen- 

 j dous as its accomplishment shall be grand and glorious. 



The pathway of human governments is strewn with mournful wrecks of 

 republics, whose ruin was wrought by and through the subordination and 

 degradation of some one or more of their essential elements of civiliza- 

 tion. 



It has been truly said that agriculture is the basis of all wealth, and 

 important and indispensable as it is in this relation, yet its higher char- 

 acter and function as the basis of all life, of all progress, and of all higher 

 civilization, can be measured only by human capability and aspiration to 

 reach the highest perfection of society and government. Standing as it 

 does, by far the most important of our great industrial interests, and 

 related as it is, in such important connection, with every individual and 

 every conceivable interest in our country, its prosperity means the better- 

 ment of all its decline means the decline of all. 



Retrogression in American agriculture means national decay and utter 

 and inevitable ruin. Powerful and promising as is this young giant 

 republic, yet its power and glory cannot survive the degradation of 

 the American farmer. Never, perhaps, in the history of the world has 

 industrial and economical thought been more intensely engaged than for 

 the past two years, in this country, in the investigation of the causes 

 which have conspired to place agriculture so far in the rear in the race 

 of material progress. 



This investigation, earnest, sincere, and searching, has led to the 

 general, if not universal conviction, that it is due in large measure and 

 in most part to partial, discriminating, and grossly unjust national legis- 

 lation. Were it due to false or imperfect systems of farm economy, we 

 would be graciously allowed and liberally advised to apply the remedy 

 by improved systems of our own devising ; but thanks to the founders of 



