134 Wisconsin - State Agricultural Society. 
ance of mechanical work, is equivalent to the muscular power of at 
least one hundred millions of men, or to state the case differently, 
the result attained to is the same as if the actual toiling population 
of Great Britain had been increased twelve-fold. It is useless to 
multiply words in dwelling upon the wonderful effect produced by 
the invention of the railway; the magnetic telegraph, and other 
implements invented by man during the last century to increase 
his power over nature. I will only add that it will be a burning 
shame to the men of the nineteenth century, if they fail to make 
improvements in the facilities for exchanging the ownership of 
products, which shall be commensurate, with those which have been 
effected in the machinery of production, transportation, and the 
conveyance and dissemination of intelligence. 
All great innovations are at first ridiculed. He who first sug¬ 
gested that the world revolves; he who first declared that the blood 
in the human body circulates; he who proposed to chain the light¬ 
ning, and make it a messenger; He who proclaimed peace on earth 
and good will among men, as within the ultimate reach of human¬ 
ity—all these have been met with scorn, ridicule, contempt, perse¬ 
cution, and the greatest with crucifixion. Yet, as the planted acorn 
develops the oak which the Creator had placed within its little 
shell, so humanity is gradually unfolding, in the civilization of this 
wonderful age, its great possibilities; and they who have observed 
past developments may confidently predict that distribution of com¬ 
modities to all, according to their needs and services, will soon fol¬ 
low the developments of powers of production, and in order to se¬ 
cure such distribution the appliances for keeping all the people 
usefully employed and fairly remunerated, must be developed and 
improved, and to do this is the problem of our da}*—it is the finan¬ 
cial problem. 
The same potent thought and investigation, the same recognition 
of the possibilities of human progress, must be brought to bear 
upon this financial problem, that have evolved such wonderful re¬ 
sults in art and science, in mechanics and chemistry. We must 
not be discouraged if our efforts are not appreciated, or if for a time 
they are greeted with contempt and ridicule by the schoolmen. 
Progress may be gradual but it will be certain. 
Whether this business generation shall survive and enjoy im¬ 
munity from panics and crises, depends much upon such efforts as 
