New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-01-11

az, although ITS articles are OF course mainly pre-
,ared with direct reference to the want, and
ri,hes Of the Christian denomination under whose
, auspices it is published. The spirit of the work is
decidedly good-and 50 far as it goes its literary
and religious tone is earnest and lofty. There
seems 10 be however a lack of elaborate prepare,
Inn. in nearly all and especially in its bes: articles.
They are evidently written in comparative haste
End with 100 little profound thought and genuine
power The leading article in this Rumber upon
.te "Righ,s Of Conscience, as we'll as one or two
d those which follow it, Illustrates and confirms
sur opinion. 1t is professed review Of the speech
ofMr. Hertell OF this city in the State Assembly
in 1885, Tie bill relative to the Rights and
Competency of Witnesses, in which, as will be re-
nembered, that gentleman seeks to prove that the
Law has no right to require of witness the test
Of an OATH, and that it is an Infringement of the
natural rights of man for the Legislature in any
way to require the recognition of God. 1t is
painted and nole and replies perhaps with Sufficient
courtesy to the ipsy sophistres with which it is
engaged. But there was room here for paper OF
higher stamp-one which should clearly and
powerfully expose the principles involved in the
points at issue and do wider service tn the State
as well as to the cause of morality and religion
than this, good as it Is, will be likely to effect.
The next two articles are upon Biblical crit.
csn; the first showing aad insisting upon the
necessity OF thorough acquaintance with Greek
philoiogy in order rightly to interpret the New
testament, and the latter presenting brief histo
rira sketch Of the text of the Bble,-the diff
ierent manuscripts by which it has been verified
aud corrected and incidental opinions as the
weight of critical authority upon certain disputed
passages.
"Schnucker's Psychology" is the subject Of the
fourth article which ID brief, superficial and quite
unworthy the subject which it treats. The open.
ing, however, is in an excellent spirit and contains
remarks the educational tendencies Of the times
which merit general consideration. We commend
the following extract to the careful thought of oul
readers:
at should awaken some misgiyings as to the cor
RICHNESS OF modern theories of education to rehec
that Plato, whose gigantic intellect has been the |
sdmiraicn OF two thousand years, possessed less |
Of scientific knowledge than many modern belle,
who bores her acquaintance TO death with the ner-
CHESS display of her vast stores OF erudtion; who
preies syeriastingly of oxygen and carbonic acid
gas who feculates her ruies. and in whose learned
mouth king-cup becomes ranunculus, dande-
lion leoniodon, and sow-thiste sonchus.
q The Novum Organum of Bacon bapished from
the world much error in natural philosophy; bu,
itOf.red nothing that could take the place of the
old scholastic philosophy in sharpening mems wits,
oriaexercisng and improving their intellects; and
SO long as it shall be true that man is possessed of
rayers which elevate him immeasurably above the
brute creation. SO long will it be also true that it
should be the aim of education to improve princi-
paly not exclusively those powers of lnaa which
coas'itpis bis distinctive existence; which made
dun nan not brute. But popular education has
e'ginded down from The right formation of the
whoite mau 10 the mere inhibition OF knowledge;
dad this loo, in many instances, knowledge which
can De Of lso possible utility; which adds nothing
cysa,o the esSternal webeing Of the individual,
While ne immortal mind is suffered to be paralyzed
from inactivity.
Gould we syof the mighty shade of Plato, and
make the groves OF sAcademus once again resouRd
With bis enchanting e'acuence or reawaken the
@hoes OF the iyoeum tc the csoteric wisdom of his
great disciple, who sat ,atiept auditor at his gift
cd masters fec, for twenty years bsfore he thought
himself titted TO instruct we glli perchancc form
alusler conception OF The ptopr 30 Get Of phiioso-
ply ltac losr Of ac!sdQn) and Ra,s Sc fore we APP
pied the name to the sneo5ae OCCUPATIONS 81
the chemist, with his hog and cetorts, or OF
the bold iapaler Of bat on pins. We wish
ITO be clearly understood laat we do not wish 10
underyaao the investigations of the chemist or the
eatomo9gist var from ii tAe physical sciences
are al ussiet In their proper subordinate sphere
eaE protest against suoh comparative triiles be-
suffered 70 usurp the place of that higher, no
.hptA ~
arm the man; to tit him TO discharge his duty
a'rs, and prepare him FOR heaven hereafter. The
Aady ut study it's to be calleo) of the physical
'clsaees has tendency to puff up poor humanity
MN the vain idea CT the vast extent OF mans little
knowledge and mans little power; and much Of
Tue presumption which is u melancholy character
suc OF the present age, is assuredly TO be atiIb-
uied TO the unfortunate influence of the employ
msrts OF tho school-room,h
Ibis Is true and uttered in good time: encour-
aged by 1t we read on and came to the following: |
Great is the reputation of German writers on
naeaPhysics though happily their works are but
n'ue known in this country. Kant and Schel.
a0g, and the two Fltches and Hegel have all writ
sa voluminously and digni6ed their wild profanity
VIA The learned name Of philosophy
ms is sweeping and may be true; but it GER
Mniy deserved more argument and more discrim-
'aaSoa than expressed in the reference 10 arii-
ass which appeared some years since in some
~sss reyiew-which is given as the sole exposition
y 'ae true character of this por,en,ous philoso-
EaS The writer then passes to brief sketch,
s'aae mainly by quotation,) and general en-
easement of Schmucker's system.
howes Prospects of The Church" is the sub
'sss OF a BRET review, followed by very good
saeer translated from French periodical, aiming