32 Wisconsin State Agricultural Society. 
imate, honorable pursuits. I would say, follow the leadership of 
your own good sense, aided by practical thinking men in whom 
you can confide. Determine for yourself all the social, busi¬ 
ness, political, and all other questions, for there is no excuse in these 
days of allowing others to do your thinking for you. 
The press is a great power; a great public educator. The lessons 
which newspapers teach, the principles they inculcate are day 
by day woven into our thoughts, and find expression in words and 
deeds. In order that their teachings may be of value to the 
farmer; and the same will apply to all other callings. They must 
be based upon principles of justice and right; they must advo¬ 
cate his true interests, showing clearly the relation he occupies to 
each and all other industrial, trade, and commercial interests. 
There are several papers now circulating in the State, and 1 am 
glad to know their number is fast increasing, which are manfully 
battling for the interests of the farmer, and all others engaged in 
useful industries. These papers should be sustained, upheld, and 
generously supported, that they may be able to vindicate the cause 
of the industries with more force and power, educating the masses 
to a higher plane and enabling them to control the country in the 
interest of labor, and those who hold the property and real wealth 
of the world. The country is now governed by the few, the sharp, 
able-minded, and shrewd politician, and laws enacted favoring cer¬ 
tain class interests, instead of those which work the u greatest good 
to the greatest number.” This ought to be changed, and the laws 
made just and equal toward all legitimate pursuits. To accomplish 
this, the masses must be educated and elevated and show their abil¬ 
ity and capacity to direct and control, and one of the great agencies 
in this reform is the newspaper, ably edited and devoted to your in¬ 
terests. 
For the Executive Board. 
W. W. FIELD, 
Secretary. 
State Agricultural Rooms, 
Madison , May 10, 1876. 
