20 



to the perfect development of the moral, physical and intellectual 

 character of the laborer, still there was this great truth symbolized 

 in the exhibition : That tlie tendencies of the race were struggling 

 for the realization of a higher and nobler civilization, and that 

 every trade, art, and profession had for its aim the equahzation 

 of man, and his elevation into a better sphere of existence. It 

 "Nvas a manifestation of the concord and harmony flowing from the 

 peaceful arts, which everywhere tend to bring the nations into 

 more intimate relations of amity. Such an exhibition is worth 

 more that a thousand victories achieved by hostile armies. 



There was a little incident of recent occurrence, when the High- 

 land regiment of the British army in India, hearing the pipes of 

 their native land, so stirred their hearts, that the doubtful siege of 

 Lucknow was that day turned to a brilliant victory. A higher 

 and more ennobling strain fell on the tired ear of millions of labor- 

 ers — those blended harmonies of nation answering unto nation, 

 until, in sweet, enra2:)turing strains, the great anthem swept around 

 the globe. 



In the United States all labor is respectable ; in idleness there 

 is disgrace. The early settlers of this country inured themselves 

 to the hardships and privations attendant upon the colonization of 

 a new and uncultivated domain. They came hither to enjoy those 

 inestimable blessings of civil and religious liberty, which w^ere not 

 to 1)6 obtained in the parent country. 



And when they settled in New England, they secured an in- 

 terest in the soil, which was ultimately to ripen into that perma- 

 nent ownership, without which the present form of government 

 would never have been established. The colonies held the lands 

 by virtue of charters granted by the crown, and notwithstanding 

 great efforts were made by individuals to obtain patents of large 

 tracts of territory, thereby creating landed proprietaries of im- 

 mense power, yet the simple mode of subdividing estates prevailed 

 in the Northern colonies, and remains the same, and in all the 

 free States of the Union has proved to be the great safeguard of 

 the rights of the laborer. 



Starting then at the earliest period in our colonial and national 

 history, we are able to trace our progress in Agriculture, Com- 

 merce and Manuftxctures, and to discern the effects of the dif- 

 ferent branches of industry in bringing us along our career of 



