much as
can be shipped in a year. This enormous productiveness has given rise to
the idea that Illinois is principally a grain-growing State, but she
none the less possesses every requisite for commerce and manufactures.
Not content even in war time with keeping up all her old sources of
wealth, she has added to the list the production of sugar, tobacco, and
even cotton, all of which have been found to flourish in nearly every
portion of the State. The seventh State in point of population in 1850,
she was the fourth in 1860, and in the production of coal she has made a
similar advance. In railroads she is in reality the first, though
nominally only the second; possessing three thousand miles, intersecting
the State in all directions. Ten years ago the cost of all the railroad
property within her bounds was about $1,500,000; in 1860 it was
$104,944,561--an instance of progress unparalleled. But these are not
the greatest things.

Education receives the most enlightened attention, and all that the
ruling powers can accomplish in persuading the people to avail
themselves of the very best opportunities for mental enlargement and
generous cultivation is faithfully done. It is for the people themselves
to decide whether they will be content with the mere rudiments of
education, or accept its highest gifts, gratis, at the hands of the
State. If the pursuit of the material wealth which lies so temptingly
around them should turn aside their thoughts from this far greater boon,
or so pervert their minds as to render them insensible to its value,
they will put that material wealth to shame. It is true that in some
cases the disgust felt by loyal citizens at infamous political
interference may have operated to prevent their sending their children
to school; but these evils are sectional and limited, and the schools
themselves will, before long, so enlighten the dark regions as to render
such stupidity impossible. It is to the infinite credit of the State
that since the war began there has been no diminution, but on the
contrary, an increase in schools, both private and public, in number of
pupils, teachers, school houses, and amount of school funds. Of eight
thousand two hundred and twenty-three male teachers in 1860, _three
thousand_ went to the war, showing that it is among her most intelligent
and instructed classes that we are to look for the patriotism of
Illinois. The deficiency thus created operated legitimately and
advant