TRUE PUBLIC POLICY. 253 



encouraging and flattering fact that Massachusetts presented 

 the most attractive home for Agassiz, when he determined to 

 bring his scholarship to America. 



And how true and dauntless has our State been in this great 

 enterprise of popular education ! In peace and in war she has 

 never faltered. During the heavy drafts made upon her treas- 

 ury during the rebellion her expenditures for education steadily 

 increased ; and when peace came, with its accumulated indebted- 

 ness, the schools received, if possible, still more earnest care. 

 Last year the increase of scholars in our schools was over ten 

 thousand ; and the amount raised by taxation for schools was 

 larger, by more than two hundred thousand dollars, than during 

 any previous year. The devotion of two millions of dollars by' 

 an individual benefactor, Mr. George Peabody, for the diffusion 

 of knowledge in the West and South-West, has excited the 

 admiration of mankind ; the amount expended by Massachu- 

 setts last year, as her aiimial contribution to the cause of 

 learning, was larger than this by more than five hundred 

 thousand dollars, being $2,574,974.49 in her pul)lic schools 

 alone. In addition to this, her colleges have been liberally 

 supported ;* and it has been estimated that her sons have be- 

 stowed more than a million dollars, in private subscription 

 and bequest and donation, to the fortunate recipients of their 

 bounty. 



And now, pardon me, while I consider with you, for a mo- 

 ment, before we close and separate, and return to our customary 

 avocations, the policy which naturally belongs to such a State 

 as ours — a State which has accomplished so much, and which 

 can only bear the burden of the past and present by being confi- 

 dent and bold and energetic for the future. Massachusetts has 

 won her position as a controlling State, and her renown and 

 honor, by calling upon the resources of her sons, with the entire 

 and unwavering belief that her call would be answered. More 

 than thirty years ago she commenced her policy of loaning her 

 credit to railroad enterprises connected with her commercial 

 efforts of various kinds. It was done with the expectation that 

 her people would avail themselves of every opportunity afforded 

 by these great channels of trade ; — and that expectation has not 

 been disappointed. More than thirty years ago a system of 

 education was inaugurated here which could only succeed by 



