New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-06-28
THE TRIBUNE.
.-,.,r,n or,rrs rypLoRING EXPEDITION.


The las, volumes of Wilkess Narrative have
reached Us now and though like the first they are
written in too prolix style, and show the writer
without high qualifications for such task, they
eunon ground 50 much less familiar that they
fy more interesting than the first The work really
contains many facts OF value. The illustrations 100
are many, and sufficient TO impart lively idea OF
the scenes and people Thus. apart from the praciI
cal results attained the nation has derived from this
great national enterprise sufficient food for It's nel
gcnce to stimulate the desire for a series OF such
Slight as is the intercourse held by the voyager
with the South Sen Islanders his narrative is always
more priced by than those Of the missionary and
traders, who though they have better opportunity
for full and candid observation, rarely use il so well
because their minds biased tow ards their special
objects II is deeply interesting to us to know how
much and how l,te God has accomplished for the
various nations OF the larger portion of the earth,
before they are brought into contact with the civiliz
alton Of Europe and the Christian religion To sup
pose it 80 little most people do, is to mpugn the
justice Of Providence. We not how any one
can contentedly think that such vast muttudes OF
living souls have been left for thousands OF years
without manifold and great means of instruction
and happiness. To appreciate justly how far these
have awaited them, to know how far they are com
petept to receive new benefits. is essential to the
phlanthropist as a means Of bcnc6ttng them, no
less than ii is important TO the philosopher who
wishes to see the universe as God made It, not as
some men think he ought 10 have made it,
The want Of correct knowledge and fair appre
citation Of the cultivated man he stands is cause
why even the good and generous fail TO aid him.
and contact with Europe has proved 20 generally
more Of a curse than blessing. II is easy enough
10 zoe why our Rcd man, to whom the White ex
tends the Bible or crucix with one hand and the
rumb bottle with the other. should look upon Jesus
a only one more Mani,ou, and learn nothing from
bis precep,s or the civilization connected with them
The Hndoo the South American Indian, who knew
their teachers first as powerful robbers and found
themselves called upon TO yield 10 violence not only
their property. personal freedom and peace but also
the convictions and ideas that had been rooted and
growing in their race for ages, could not be other
than degraded and Supplied by change effected
through such violence and CONFUSION. But not only
those who csmc with fire and sword, crying " Be
hcvc or die" understand or we will scourge you
understand and we will only plumber and tyr
annie over YOU not only these ignorant dcspots
selfdeceiving robbers. have failed to benefit the
people they dared esteem more savage than them
selves but the good and generous have failed from
want of patience and an expanded intelligence
Would you speak to man, first learn his language
Would you have the tree grow, learn the nature OF
the soil and climate in which you plant il Better
days are coming, we do hope as to these matters
DAYS In which the new shall be harmonzcd with
tho old, rather than violently rent asunder from IT,
when progress shall be accomplished by gentle evo
luton as the stem of the plant grows up rather than
with the blasting Of rocks and blindness or death OF
miners
The knowledge which can lead 10 such results
mus, be collected as all true knowledge Ia, from the
love of it, In the healthy state of the mind the
state Of elastic youth which would be perpetual in
the mind if it We're nobly disciplined and animated
BY immortal hopes, it likes TO learn Just how the
facts are seeking truth for its own sake, not doubt
ing that the design and cause will be made clear in
time A mind in such state will find many facts
ready for its use in these volumes relative 10 the
South Sea islanders and other objects OF interest