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tiful flower, Bull a better grape, Hovej a better strawberry, 

 Craw^ford a better peach : better grains may wave in our fields, 

 better flocks and herds cover our hills. Man, capable of unlim- 

 ited improvement and with desire for such improvement, finds 

 Nature perfectly adapted to his constitution. 



Not only does the utilization of labor demand intelligence to 

 direct, that every blow may be struck to the best advantage, but 

 it demands virtue in the individual, and the greatest simplicity 

 and freedom in our government. Every jail, every prison and 

 every alms-house is a draft upon the honest labor of the commun- 

 ity. The criminals and all who are needed for their keeping are 

 so many transformed from producers to consumers. Every vag- 

 abond must live, every thief and every lounger ; every one who 

 lives by vice or by pandering to vice, makeS more hours of labor 

 and harder toil for every man who lives by honest labor. When 

 virtue has so far prevailed that all men work wilh hand or head, 

 labor will be lightened and the hours of labor may well be 

 shortened. 



For us, as a nation, the brightest future is opening. We have 

 universal freedom, — the first great incentive to labor. With this 

 there goes virtue and intelligence to render that labor productive. 

 Wealth must accumulate from our mines of precious metals, but 

 more than all from the products of our soil. In days of ignorance 

 and oppression and vice, labor must be long-continued and ex- 

 hausting ; but if we are true to ourselves, every j'ear will lighten 

 labor and shorten its hours. And we call upon all advocates of 

 eight hour laws to join with us to secure the conditions that shall 

 make only six hours sufficient for ail our wants. See to it that 

 there shall be no more war within our borders. It will be long 

 years before any foreign nation will indulge in the pastime of draw- 

 ing swords with us. If we are true to ourselves, to the principles 

 of freedom and justice, no more hostile troops will tread our 

 borders till the present generation has passed away, if ever. See 

 to it that vice meets a swift punishment, that virtue may enjoy 

 its own. See to it that education is everv where provided for the 

 young ; education that shall guide and quicken industry, that 

 shall enable the farmer and the artisan to press Nature's forces 

 into their service. See to all of this, and you have done for the 



