ssuming
all this to be undeniably true, where can be found more potent agencies
in the work of elevation than Agricultural Colleges? And why, then,
should any farmer in this State hold back from giving this Institution
his cordial and hearty support? And stranger still--why should he put
himself in antagonism to its success? Such an attitude, to my mind, is
not merely unwise, but preposterous--yes, suicidal. If the College is
not what it should be, the more his self-interest should prompt him to
bestow upon it his aid. It is the _Farmers' Institution_--founded for
_his_ benefit, at much cost; and if _he_ does not feel an interest in it
and labor to make it a success, who will? Who should?

But why have a portion of the farmers of Michigan seemed to look with
distrust upon this Institution, and in some cases, I regret to say,
seemed to regard it as a sort of wrong to themselves; and if they have
not actually opposed, have, at least, withheld from it their support? I
must confess, that should I give what seemed to me to be the true answer
to these questions, it might be regarded by some who have not very
carefully looked into the subject, as an assumption on my part
unwarranted by facts.

Would that it were so; that I were mistaken. But having given the
subject some little thought and investigation, you will, I trust, permit
me the honest expression of my own views upon this important matter. It
is for that purpose and none other, that I am here. But you, Mr.
President, as well as all those now present, can certainly take no
personal exception to these views, as the very fact of such presence
shows that you are not of the class to which I may allude; and I am
gratified in being able to say that I believe there are very many
others, not present, who are the warm and devoted friends of this
Institution; and who, with you, I most certainly hope, constitute the
rule and not the exception.

But the answer: And in giving which, I will avail myself of the
privilege conceded to a certain class of men,--that of answering one
question by asking another. Why then do men ever oppose or neglect their
own interests? To my mind, only from want of knowledge, from prejudice
or self-will--or some other of the same brood of enemies to man's
success in laudable undertakings; and of which _ignorance_ is the chief,
and may be regarded as the prolific source of all the others. In this
case, undoubtedly, as in others, some are opposed from a