336 Wisconsin state agricultural society. 
THE DUTY OF WISCONSIN FARMERS. 
BY CLINTON BABBITT, ESQ., IIEMDOKA FARM, BELOIT. 
Ladies and-Gentlemen: Well may we indulge love and pride 
for our noble state. Her scenery unsurpassed, over which our eye 
is accustomed to range ; her vast lakes—inland seas—sufficient to 
float an empire’s commerce ; her majestic rivers and trackless for¬ 
ests—all inspire devotion and patriotism. Beneath our very feet 
are inexhaustible mines of lead, copper and iron, and an arable 
soil not surpassed by any portion of the civilized globe. This to 
us is the dearest spot of earth, for it is home. Here, for many years, 
we have lived; and here, too, at last, we hope to sleep in peace. 
In answer to the call of the heart, come up to us from the past 
endearing memories. But in order to understand 
OUR DOUBLE OBLIGATION TO STATE AND NATION 
in the light of a broader and more refined culture, we must re¬ 
member that the United States is our country, and its highest 
titled knighthood the appellation of American farmer. Citizen¬ 
ship entitles to protection. It also demands unyielding obliga¬ 
tions. We cannot shrink from the responsibilities it imposes. If 
we have bad laws to govern us, we cannot say we are guiltless. 
If oppression grinds, we cannot say we might not have checked 
the power that warmed it into life. This gathering indicates that 
Wisconsin farmers are awaking to their duty. Thought and re¬ 
flection are demanded by the times. Concert of action and thor¬ 
ough organization, will surely achieve the results for which we 
labor. We complain of oppressive and bad laws. We mean re¬ 
peal, we mean reform. It is our duty to demand from our public 
servants at Washington, and our legislature at home, a fair repre¬ 
sentation of our sentiments and opinions. Economy must be ad¬ 
hered to in the disbursement of public money. 
TAXATION SHALL BE LESS BURDENSOME, 
and government throughout its various branches less expensive. 
