184 M/isconsin State Agricultural Society. 
are ready at almost any time to rise, if they had a leader, I 
think he would see that it was necessaiy to use strong language 
to show you the necessity of acting for your country, for your¬ 
selves, and for 3 r our cause. 
Mr. Harris: I would like to make a suggestion: u The prudent 
man forseeth the evil and avoideth the danger, but the wicked goeth 
on and is punished.” We have assembled here to-day to discuss 
what will promote our welfare individually, and produce the great¬ 
est good to the greatest number. Let us gain a little wisdom by 
the experience of the past. We went on about our farming, about 
our merchandizing, about our manufacturing, and the slave-power 
got hold of this land, and when the people finally solved the ques¬ 
tion it resisted, and we had to appeal from the ballot to the bullet. 
Before the money-power, or any other power, have fixed their 
clutches upon the labor of this land, let us say, we can have no 
more bloodshed, but make use of that peaceful revolution that our 
fathers ordained in the very institutions which they founded for us, 
and let us consider the advice of the great father of his country. 
The said political ideas have to be carried out by political organiza¬ 
tions, but never forget and put your party before your country. It 
seems to me that the great American people, the great laborers, 
have allowed other men to manufacture public sentiment for them. 
They have asked, who wants position? I know that is the case. 
We want to look around and find what man represents our senti¬ 
ments and we must say to him you must go and make laws for the 
people, conferring the greatest good upon the greatest number. If 
we attend to our business in these conventions, to counsel what is 
the greatest good to the greatest number, we need have no fear of 
a revolution of blood. Being all peacefully inclined, do not let us 
forget those duties the constitution has put upon us, if we want to 
enjoy the privilege of an American citizen. 
Mr. Benton asked leave to make a personal explanation. The 
gentleman who read the paper alluded, to the feeling in the coal 
and iron regions of Pennsylvania. I know something about that 
feeling, but no class of citizens, holding the elective franchise, 
should ever entertain the idea of bloody revolution. To do a 
wrong does not make a right. 
Secretary Field: I like to see the time all occupied, and I will 
say a single word. One thought suggested itself to me as Mr 
