A CHAPTER ON AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS. 415 



more apparent praise of other classes for the praise of the majority." 

 If, however, the views of Hamilton Fish, regarding this subject, are 

 carried out by the legislature of this State, the people will owe him 

 a great debt of gratitude, for urging the formation of an educational 

 institution, which will, both directly and indirectly, do more to ele- 

 vate the character of the great industrial class of the nation, and 

 develope the agricultural wealth of the country at large, than any 

 step which has been taken since the foundation of the republic. 



An agricultural college, for the complete education of farmers, 

 where the wisest general economy of farming, involving all its main 

 scientific and practical details, successfully established in the State 

 of New- York, will be the model and type of a similar institution in 

 every State in the Union. Its influence will be speedily felt in all 

 parts of the country ; and it is therefore of no little importance that 

 the plan adopted by the legislature should be one worthy of the ob- 

 ject in view, and the ripeness of the times. 



Above all, when a good plan is adopted, let it not be rendered 

 of little value by being intrusted for execution to the hands of those 

 who stand ready to devour the loaves and fishes of State patronage. 

 It is easy to devise, but it is hard to execute wisely ; and we warn 

 the farmers in our legislature, the State Agricultural Society 

 (which has already done such earnest service in this good cause), 

 and the Executive, to guard against a failure in a great and wise 

 scheme, by intrusting its execution to any but those whose compe- 

 tence to the task is beyond the shadow of a doubt. 



