ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 269 



be moved that need moving. If the university ship has been turned from 

 its right course, little or much, or if it has been turned right about and 

 headed the wrong way, the farmers will surely swing her around again 

 and send her on her appointed way. They know her mission; it wa& 

 clearly mapped out from the beginning, and knowing it tkey will see to it 

 that she have a chance to accomplish that mission. 



Lest some might think otherwise, let me say I have not spoken a. 

 word intended as an arraignment of anybody for what may have been 

 done or left undone in or concerning this university. 



There has been lack of information and consequent misunderstand- 

 ing and disagreement among the people as to the true and lawful charac- 

 ter, scope, and purpose of our university. I have deemed it my rights 

 perhaps my duty a& a citizen and farmer, to set forth here those purposes. 

 And let no on>e infer from any utterance of mine that I take an unfavor- 

 able or gloomy view of matters and events in general. I believe that the 

 preponderance of human intention and human effort ia toward' the good. 

 I believe that the prevailing course and tendency of human institutions 

 is toward the better. They may travel sometimes obliquely — zigzag — 

 wrong end foremost — up side down — or even at times seemitogo back- 

 ward, but altogether they seem to get onward and upward. 



Good things — better things — the best things come not at once, but by- 

 evolution, step by step from imperfection to excellence. 



Agriculture is' the peculiar science; in its beginning simple indeed — 

 simplest of all; in its higher development we shall see it growing complex^ 

 comprehensive, drawing to its aid, asisimilating and rendering subser- 

 vient all sciences and becoming in its fullest development the Master 

 Science. 



Since the children of men however simple and unlearned must live 

 and maintain themselves on the earth, and since they could live only upon 

 the products of the tilled field, it was necessary that they be able to pro- 

 vide the means of sustaining life by the simplest methods of field cul- 

 ture. 



