35 
the citizens. Primitive life is very simple and beautiful under primitive condi- 
tions, imt under the conditions of u highly organized civilization primitive life 
would be decided evidence of degeneration. Civilization brings not only its 
opportunities, but its duties as well. Education is therefore a constantly expand- 
ing problem. These colleges of agriculture and mechanic arts must recognize 
that up to date their work is only outlined. They must then, not only as the 
vers of the past, the protectors of the future, but as the designated 
agencies of the State, stimulate and develop the possibilities of both land and 
men. These institutions therefore stand in a very important relation to society 
and must help to solve the problems of practical living for the millions of our 
industrial classes. 
It is not unnatural that in the presence of this large expenditure of money 
and of the tendency to increase this expenditure of money as time goes on the 
thoughts «f men should turn to a consideration of t ho results of this national 
movement in education. I have no desire to enter into a discussion that might 
lie tabulated in figures. For our purpose here this evening it might be well 
to remind ourselves, however, in the first place, that this national movement 
has given great importance to work in agriculture in the Tinted States Gov- 
ernment The Department of Agriculture now stands as the nation's testimony 
to the importance of the problems with which it deals. Apart from the move- 
ment for these land-grant colleges, it might be seriously doubted whether there 
could have been such a development of the nation's work as is now organized 
in the Department of Agriculture. We recognize the importance of the work 
undertaken by the Government and also the generosity toward the States as 
shown in the two Morrill acts. We can not fail to recognize the helpful coop- 
eration of the Department of Agriculture with the colleges and stations. Too 
much could not easily he said in praise of this work. On the other hand, we 
are quite as much under obligation to recognize the helpful attitude of the sev- 
eral States in making possible the highest efficiency of this national movement. 
They have gone at the matter with a steady purpose and a steadily growing 
enthusiasm. The movement has not been by any means a rural one. Our city 
populations have come to see the intimate relation between the development of 
agriculture in this country and the prosperity and safety of much of our com- 
merce. They have seen how it affects the quantity of our food supplies, the 
health of our people, and the permanence of much of our prosperity. Those of 
us engaged in the agricultural colleges recognize, therefore, that our work 
could be so incomplete as to be extremely unsatisfactory but for the logical 
development at Washington. It is also true that they without us should not 
be made perfect. Indeed, every enterprise of this association has made mani- 
fest that the interest of the nation, of the States, of the colleges, and of the 
people are all one. The work of investigation, the work of supervision, the work 
of stimulating and aiding the local enterprises all unite to emphasize to us the 
fact that the nation has been pretty well aroused. The further development 
of this work must inevitably emphasize the common interest of the entire 
country and so lead to an increasing intelligence as to the real unity of the 
country. In the large and broad field of the nation's interests the Depart- 
ment of Agriculture in its several fields of work may be regarded as the logical 
outcome of the Morrill Act and also as the nation's appreciation of the impor- 
tance of the colleges and experiment stations. Without design on the part of 
anyone there has gradually grown up an institution at Washington which give* 
expression to the national ideals, just as the local college expresses the ideals 
of the community in which it is located. I am disposed, therefore, to say that 
the colleges of agriculture and mechanic arts have fully justified their exist- 
ence by the national influences that have been set to work as a consequence 
of their founding. On the other hand, the results in a local way that have 
been realized from these colleges are by no means to be despised. They have 
wrought out local problems and stimulated local enterprise. They have trained 
some valuable citizens and produced some efficient men and women. This in 
itself would be ample justification, but through the agency of these efficient men 
and women the resources of the country are not only being perpetuated, but 
increased, so that both local and national governments are finding their patri- 
mony undiminished. These institutions, while devoted to the cause of educa- 
tion, have pointed out the possibilities of increased revenues and trained men 
to protect themselves in the strenuous struggle for existence. 
The results realized from the establishment and maintenance of these land- 
grant colleges are not to be looked for entirely in the graduates of such 
institutions or in the renewed interests that may be aroused in either agri- 
