rest, that is to the spirit of property.
Whence it follows, that the nearer the cultivator approaches the passive
condition of a mercenary, the less industry and activity are to be
expected from him; and, on the other hand, the nearer he is to the
condition of a free and entire proprietor, the more extension he gives
to his own forces, to the produce of his lands, and to the general
prosperity of the State.'

"Each co-operative farm, will become a new center of permanent wealth; a
new center of social progress; of organized labor; of distribution and
exchange. These new centers, by again bringing together the food and the
consumer, will save millions for themselves, which under the competitive
system, were thrown away in freights and commissions. As these farm
centers continue to increase, they may stretch away in one unbroken
chain, perhaps five hundred miles in length. Each link in the chain,
will be a five or ten-mile boulevard. Altogether, forming one continuous
system of broad, free highways, the finest the world ever saw! Aided by
trains of horseless carriages, there will be developed between the
centers along this highway, a new system of transportation,
distribution, commerce and exchange. With the establishment of each new
system, the co-operative movement will gain an added impetus. The
centers of exchange, distribution and commerce, located in great cities,
will gradually lose their dominancy. The long lines of monopolized
railroads, connecting these cities, will as surely lose a large
proportion of their traffic. The magnetic wealth and bustle of the great
city, will lose its attractive power. As a consequence, and by the
action of a natural law, the tide of wealth and population, will flow
back to the country; with its meadows and fields, its mountains and
streams, its sunshine, blue skies, pure air and wholesome, enjoyable
village life. Amid such surroundings, upright and just, fearless and
free, the model citizen of a true republic, may find a natural home."

"Pardon me, Fillmore, for the interruption! I freely concede the
desirability of the results, which you have so glowingly pictured.
Nevertheless, I cannot quite agree with you, about the existence of a
law, through which the tide of wealth and population will again flow
towards the country. I am inclined to think, that facts and figures are
against such a result. The statistics of the census of 1890, indicate
that about one-third of the population,