Exhibition of 1873—annual addresses. 161 
broadest culture, and rise to the highest usefulness in society, 
should be honored equal to any profession among mankind. 
But, Mr. President, is the farmer occupying this high and exalt¬ 
ed position which his calling entitles him to ? Is there not an idea 
prevalent that the labor necessary to the tilling of the soil is un¬ 
dignified, debasing and degrading; that in the division of labor as 
marked cut by the Creator and the customs of society, the path we 
have pursued, and which we hope our children will follow, is less dig¬ 
nified than that marked out by those pursuing other avocations of 
life for themselves, their sons and daughters ? Why is it that the 
young men, on graduating at our universities, select some other call¬ 
ing than that of farming, when their education then well fits them 
to cultivate the soil scientifically and successfully, with a prac¬ 
tice which a few years of experience would give them? One 
reason is that they think they can accumulate wealth more rapidly, 
and another is that they see that labor upon the farm is not con¬ 
sidered by society as dignified and honorable as some of the pro¬ 
fessions or other avocations of the human family. Such notions 
IS 
were conceived in ignorance, and are fostered and encouraged by 
those possessed of pride, conceit and aristocratic notions, and who 
are constitutionally opposed to labor, and who in all ages of the 
world have preyed upon the industry of others. I doubt not the 
industry of this country has suffered largely in consequence of 
this pernicious idea; and that hundreds of our brightest intellects 
are moving in the direction of trades and professions, so that the 
avenues to each are full, and where, as Daniel Webster once re¬ 
marked relative to the profession of law, that there was little room 
except “ up higher,” simply because they feel that it is more dig¬ 
nified, a higher and more elevating calling. 
Young men, if that is your idea, stop a moment and let us rea¬ 
son together. What labor of the head or hands can be more hon¬ 
orable than that of tilling the soil in a scientific and practical 
manner, as from this source all real wealth is obtained - . All other 
trades or avocations of man are entirely dependent upon the sur¬ 
plus wealth of the husbandman. He is the great central planet 
around which all the lesser lights must revolve. His is the great 
moving power that is pushing forward the army of progress and 
civilization, which is making this country to bloom with beauty, 
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