New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-10-22
TX, SATURDAY MORNING, OCTOBER D.. ls42.
Mr.. Colby's Address.

". COLBY OF MASSACHUSETTS, utIsStIeu peLoie vi
American Institute on Thursday evening at IT,
Tabernacle, at lis Fifteenth Anniversary
Mr. Presdent and Gentlemen of the american Institute
In the renowned Peninsula which Lord Byron 81
justly and beautifully apostrophised, as the anc
OF lost gods and God-like men, u on the banks o
the Alpheus and in view of the sea, at the return
of every 6fy-secoad month, festival was cele
brated, to the influence of which, all philosopher:
and historians have agreed in ascribing the com
mencement and rapid progress of Greece in civil
zation and refinement. 1t is certain that The OIyrn
pic games reached far back into the dubious ghl
Of her early history. where fact and fancy hold q
disputed empire that they continued for more than
a thousand years, and at last threw sad and
broken splendor over the twilight Of her waning
gories. They were adapted TO the character and
pursuits of an early and imperfectIy civilized age
in all their forms of observance: and the undying
attachment which the people entertained for them,
tells US how deeply the love of such festivities is
implanted in the nature of man. The Institution
whose anniversary yoG have assembled here to
commemorate, is founded indeed upon the same
unchanged human nature; but it tells. in its mode
| of observance, tho whole story Of the wondrous
changes and Improvements that time has effected
in the condition, the tastes, and the pursuits of
mankind. And if the celebration Of games at
Olympia, at long intervals, excited such an intlu-
entail control upon the character and fortunes Of
single ancient State, what results may we not ex-
pect from an INSTITUTION, milling yearly, in the
commercial capital of many mighty States; which
draws together its citizens from its oumost bord-
ers not to display their feetness of foot or strength
of limb or to behold their display by otheis-but
to witness the varied results of industry, from the
workshop and the held-the Improvements which
the year has effected in the mechanic arts-to
awake an energetic spirit of emulation, to speed
the progress of their country in prosperity, and
win an honorable fame by e,iecting some substan-
tial and lasting good for their Nothing
adequately supply the advantages of free personal
intercourse in promoting iralernal sentiments,
the exhibition of models and products, and oral
explanation in the mechanic arts and in agricpl
ture-in diffusng useful information or stimulating
industry. The benefits of such festive assemblies
have not persisted With the statues and affairs Of
Olympia and TO you therefore, O people Of Els,
who founded this Institution, and to whose guar
danship the preparations for its annual observance
are committed, may the people of this country be
ever ready to pay the debt Of gratitude they owe
you. May your territory be sacred to the arts of
Peace, and your people long enjoy the rewards Of
their public spirit and generous hospitality
On an occasion Of such general interest and ex-
pectation an older and ADLER man than myself might
well distrust his ability to do it JUSTICE And when
remember that my predecessors in this office have
been the most distinguished men Of our country and
that the speaker is regarded of more importance
than the speech, fear that must ask your utmost
indulgence. They have not only set up high stand
ard Of eoquerce, which few can reach and none can
hope to pass, but they have selected and exhausted
the most pertinent and interesting topics of dis
t.Ct he ~ ,ba
tentative of Ireading, passi6us aquiS, in their
footsteps, entering upon less inviting
field of inquiry. To what subjecr, then, shall in
wife your attention for the hour that are pass
together2 stand in the midst Of q city distin
gushed for its accumulated wEALTA-whicli meets
the eye in every direction and in every form-n
its streets and the palaces that adorn therH-n the
princey mansions that look down from every hight
or lift their turrets in every grove-in warehouses
bursting with merchandise, and in forest of masts
that ,hrong ycur shores. And have seen, TOO, the
products of human LABoR,in endless yariety-from
every section of the union-lrom the machine that
unwinds the delicate thread of the silkworm,to the
gigantic eng merry that losses the panked and iron
spiked ship like paything in the af--and before
me sec the representatives of each class coming up
with religious soemnities and with music and song,
teceebratc the Fifteenth Annversaryoithe their Union.
Invite you 10 consider, tucil NtdllH ara iIdDoT,
and the relations between them.
And this subject, at all times one OF grave and
commanding importance, is specially at this
time and in this country, where errors the most
pernicous in relation to it very extensively pre-
vail Many of our people have derived their ideas
of the wealthy and the laboring classes, not from
fair and enlarged view Of their condition in this
country, bat from what they have read and heard
Of them in The old world and in other times. The
study of history. to which much addicted,
is calculated TO engender false ideas and strong
preiadices upon this suhject-and they not a
little strengthened by all the novels, which have
far taken historical turn, that they profess TO
give faithful delincation OF men and manners
There is passionate fondsess also for books of
travels, and probably they have done much to
deepen and refresh these false opinions; and, in
short. many good men among have formed their
PRINCIPLES OF conduct in reference the facts which
they have thus learned,
And vet the difference between the condition
and relation of the two classes here and i'll the
old world, is as wide the ocean that separates
US but marked and pa pable as IL Is, 1t is very
generally disregarded. Public attention has, in
deed, been strongly directed Of late to the wages
of labor IN this and in other countries; and the
vastly superior condition of the American laborer
mas Ueen causes ahu
the consequences OF this difference, and the du-
ties resulting from it, secondary objects, and
were therefors but slightly considered. In order
tina, we may understand their true condition here,
and thus correct our preiudices if need be, and
adopt correct principles of thought and action, let
US briefly inquire into the condition of The t.9o
classes in some of the European communities
Let US examine things abroad, that may obtain
a clearer view of things at home.
1t is obvious TO remark, in the outset, that IN
almost every country and in every age, though
there were diversites of operations, there was
the same sni-it-the story Of the rich and the poor