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political world, but as well in the scientific discoveries and real advance¬ 
ment that has been and is being made among and by the laboring classes. 
Here and there have arisen among them individuals who have learned to 
appreciate the dignity of labor, and the beuefit of the aids and helps 
which arise from the creative talents of man. And is he not of incal¬ 
culably more benefit to our State who spends the gifts his Creator has 
bestowed upon him, in studying out the best methods to ameliorate the 
condition of the laboring classes, by putting in their hands the means of 
securing the greatest profits with the least labor, than is the other who 
is incessantly talking of the hardships inflicted upon the laborer, and 
the difficulties under which he strives, without once attempting practi¬ 
cally and by his own efforts to ameliorate his condition ? Every man who 
discovers a way to produce a greater result with less labor, is a benefactor 
of his race. No class of men have so great an opportunity to make im¬ 
provements in labor saving machinery as farmers have. Much of their 
labor is such that the hands can be kept busy at physical toil, while the 
head not in the least hindered by the hand may be planning and maturing- 
some important discovery. Heretofore most of the improvements in 
agricultural implements have been made by practical mechanics. I ask 
you, farmers, if this is not permitting the mechanic to get a little the 
start of you ? If you cannot build, you can at least invent. To be sure 
your interests are joined with those of the mechanic; he builds your im¬ 
plements of husbandry and prides himself in excelling the rest of his craft, 
in the beauty of finish and strength of structure he gives to his work. 
These he exchanges for your products and thus keeps up the activity of 
trade. The display of mechanical art exhibited here to-day, fully de¬ 
monstrates that we need be no longer dependant upon the East for any 
kind of mechanical ivork, though the exhibition in this respect is by no 
means what it should be, or might be, if our mechanics had brought in. 
their handiwork. 
The many improvements in farming tools, the introduction of the best 
breeds of stock, and scientific discoveries in regard to the nature of soils 
have combined to render the pursuits of agriculture profitable, beyond 
any other kind of business, taken in the aggregate. 
Farmers have made themselves well off, rich even, and remained so 
till the laurels of a green old age have strewed their pathway to the tomb. 
