Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-05-26


lgy of thought, fruitfulness of invention,
force of moral purpose, thirst for the
true, and delight in the beautiful Ac-
cording to these views, we attach special
importance to those branches ofliterature,
which relate to human nature, and which
give it consciousness ofits own powers.
History has noble use, for it shows us
human beings in various and opposite
conditions, in their strength and weak
ness, in their progress and relapses, and
thus reveals the causes and means by
which the happiness and virtue of the
race may be enlarged. Poetry is use
full, by touching deep springs in the hu-
man soul; by giving voice to its more del
icate feelings; by breathing out and max
ing more Ineligible, the sympathy which
subsists between the mind and the out
ward universe by creating beautiful
forms or manifestations for great moral
truths. Above all, that higher philoso-
ply, which treats of the intellectual and
moral constitution of man, of the founda-
tion of knowledge, of duty, of perfection,
of our relations to the spiritual world, and
especially to God; this has usefulness
so peculiar as to throw other departments
of knowledge into obscurity; and peo-
pie among whom this does not find honor,
has little ground to boast Of its superior-
ty to uncivilized tribes. 1t will be seen
from these remarks, that utility, with us,
has broad meaning. In truth, we are
slow to condemn as useless, any research
Ies or discoveries of original and strong
minds, even when we discern in them no
bearing on any interests of mankind; for
all truth is of a prolific nature, and has
connexions not Immediately perceived; !;
and it may be that what we call vain spe-
culations, may, at no distant period, link
themselves with some new facts or theo-
ries, and guide profound thinker to the
most important results. The ancient ma
thematician, when absorbed in solitary
thought, little imagined that his theorems,
after the lapse ofages, were to be applied
by the mind of Newton to the solution of
the mysteries of the universe, and not on
ly to guide the astronomer through the
heavens, but the navigator through the
painless ocean. For ourselves we in
cline to hope much from truths, which are
particularly decried as useless; for the
noblest and most useful truth is of an abb
stract or universal nature; and yet the
abstract, though susceptible of infinite ap-
plication, is generally, as we know, op-
posed to the practical.
We maintain that people, which has
any serious purpose of taking a place
among improved communities, should
studiously promote within itself every va
riety of intellectual exertion. 1t should
resolve strenuously to be surpassed by
none. 1t should feel that mind is the
creative power, through which all the re-
sources Of nature are to be turned to ac-
count, and by which apeople is to spread
its influence, and establish the noblest
form of empire. 1t should train within it
self men able to understand and to use
whatever is thought and discovered over
the whole earth. The whole mass of hui
man knowledge should exist among a
people, not in neglected Libraries, but in
its higher minds. Among its most cher
ished institutions, should be those, which
will insure to it ripe scholars, explorers
Of ancient learning, profound historians
and mathematicians, intellectual laborers
devoted to hysical s moral science, and
to the creation of refined and beautiful
literature.