GOV. SPRAUUE S ADDRESS. ib 



Washington early in the rebellion. It was not known to all, but 

 he could freely say in that place anil elsewhere that when he 

 discovered the power which was waging successfully its efforts 

 against ours, he determined there was but one plan out of which 

 success could be obtained to accomplish the results desired, and 

 that was by arming the power which gave strength to the 

 Southern rebellion — by placing the blue cloth and the musket 

 on the shoulder and on the body of the black man. 



He paid a brief tribute of respect to the memory of Governor 

 Andrew, who he said he greatly esteemed whilst living. Mr. 

 Sprague said that most public speakers were in the habit of 

 pointing to the progress and distinction of the American people, 

 and in every way endeavoring to show to their audiences that 

 they were unequalled by the people of any nation in anything 

 whatever. It was his intention to reverse that picture, and to 

 call their attention to a condition of things which indicated that 

 America was not in a state of progress, but rather the reverse, 

 and to point out the cause and the remedy. Statistics had 

 shown in reference to farming that the productiveness of the 

 soil of the country had been gradually decreasing from the ear- 

 liest founders to the present time. Statistics on the other hand 

 indicated that in France, Germany, Ireland and Scotland the 

 productiveness of the soil had increased. When he ascertained 

 that the average product of wheat per acre in this country was 

 ') bushels on the old land and 11 bushels upon the new land, on 

 the average, and ascertained in comparison that the productive- 

 ness of the lands on the other side of the Atlantic, was from 27 

 to 30 bushels to the acre, he asked himself if it were possible 

 that the farmer of this country could compete with the farmer 

 of the Old World under such disadvantages. When he exam- 

 ined into the position in which the farming interest of New 

 England was to-day, and learned that it was a question where 

 a farmer could be found that could produce a crop and obtain a 

 profit thereon ; and ascertained further that farms in New Eng- 

 land were for sale at less and less value from time to time ; 



