THE CONCLUSION. 2$$ 



classes, however they may have stood aloof from any 

 practical part in the settlement of public questions, or 

 however they may have appeared merely as partisans. 



Knowledge is power, and it is a greater power for 

 good than for evil ; but is a mighty power for evil. 

 Knowledge, though, is a greater 'power for good when 

 in possession of those whose occupations, habits, and 

 surroundings are calculated to develop morality and 

 virtue. Good knowledge and morality are correlatives. 

 In the rural classes, then, we may look for good knowl- 

 edge to be most extensively disseminated, and in the 

 greatest volume in the aggregate. 



In America, in our day, that education which should 

 render men capable of doing valuable service for most 

 reforms is within the grasp of the average rural voter. It 

 is only required, in addition, that he become inspired by 

 real convictions. It has not been through men of profound 

 speech, or of brilliant oratory alone that reforms have 

 been wrought, but by all who are, to use an expression of 

 Emerson, " appointed by Almighty God to stand for a 

 fact." " Him who has the facts and can and will state 

 them people will listen to, though he is otherwise igno- 

 rant." It is this standing for facts that finally tells. 



Reform's best weapon is the plain, unvarnished truth, 

 which strikes home to the heart of the humblest. Rich- 

 ard Cobden, when urging on his fellow leaguers in the 

 great reform to which he had pledged his life's best 

 efforts, said to them : " This is the work which requires 

 no gifts of oratory, or powerful public appeals ; it is a 

 labor in which men can be useful privately and without 

 ostentation." The same can be said of all great reforms 

 in which the people are interested. Yes ! the most of us 

 are eligible for service in the cause of truth. 



