393 
WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
say some words concerning agricultural education, and especially 
concerning the college of agriculture and its work,*I bear in mind 
that to perform is better than to promise; to quietly and faithfully 
do one’s work is rastly more important than the speaking of any 
words about what that work is to be; and that we have the best of 
authority for the statement, that if any one is justified in boasting, 
it is he who has finished his task, rather than he who is just begin¬ 
ning. 
It is not only proper, but it is a pleasure, for me to express my 
appreciation of the kindly words of welcome which have just been 
spoken, and my equally grateful appreciation for the less formal 
greeting I have received from the faculty, students and trustees, so 
far as I have met them. I have found not only kindly rendered 
personal courtesies, but also the indications of an honest and earn¬ 
est desire that the college of agriculture should be made useful and 
prosperous in the largest practical degree, and a willingness to give 
it every needed aid in its efforts to grow toward that position. 
Something of the history of the movements to secure a wider 
and better education for the industrial classes, and more especially 
for those engaged in agriculture, has been given you this evening. 
These efforts finally secured the magnificent grant of public lands 
by the general government, which caused the establishment of this 
among so many other similar institutions, and which caused also 
the liberal grants by this and other states, by this and other coun¬ 
ties and towns, which have made possible the utilization of the 
original land grant. 
There has been much of earnest and not a little of angry discus¬ 
sion concerning these institutions, their proper work and limita¬ 
tions. Many extravagant things have been said; a multitude of 
crude plans have been made public, and some extraordinary expec¬ 
tations have been held. There has been disappointment to many, 
and often most to those who have been enthusiastic, if not reason¬ 
able in their hopes and expectations. Mistakes have been made by 
those to whom was committed their management. Confessedly 
difficult as their work has been, this was inevitable even if the 
wisest and best of men had always been chosen to plan and ex¬ 
ecute. 
Even if nothing of good had been accomplished as yet, it would 
not be wise to abandon the effort. Back of, and in large part cans- 
