The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-07-26

The American Institute and the Corporation.
The above Institution is likely to experience
good deal OF embarrassment in being deprived OF
their rooms in the Park, the Corporation having
signitied such an intention on recent occasion
The pretext for this step, on the part OF the Com
mon Council, is the accommodation Of the Marine
Court with better room than that now used by il.
which is found to be too small and badly ventilated
The members of the Institute are complaining bit.
terly of the treatment they have received, and con-
tend that it would not only be dsgracefu but unjust
in the Common Council to turn them out
From the animus of the remarks made at the
meeting held by the Institute in reference to this
case, on Friday evening" the officers and most OF
the members to regard il little less than
outrage 10 eject them No doubt the contemplated
act ofthe municipal authorities is good deal exag
gerated in the eyes Of the sufferers by the high
views taken of the Importance of their body, for,
certainly, there small degree OF Boosting and
sefglorifcatlon INDUCED in by the speakers
on the occasion referred to. Leaving the
taste Of the matter out of the question.
it would be far better TO leave the task of euogizine
the Institute and the mighty works it has performed
TO others although perhaps trfling portion of van
y is excusable IN those who certainly take some
merely expended or not. There those who dit
fer however, from the gentlemen of the Institute in
the views they take of the extent OF its inhuenc,
on the great interests which II proposes to benefit
1t is doubted whether with all the good intentions
and zeal of the active men of the Institute, they
possess the means and qualifications requisite to
realize their objects. The Corporation may take
this view OF the matter: It may possibly be friendly
enough to agriculture and the mechanic arts, and
yet be unable to see how some half score of we'll
meaning persons, comprising the officers OF the In
stItulr can do much to foster and promote these in
erests. They may happen to think that IN order t.
be useful, such body must be popular, and Its
means OF operation sought after by the public. Now
il is truth. and notorious to all who take an occa.
siona look in at the periodical meetings held in thu
of the Society in the Park, that he attendance
is usually nay, invariably extremely thn and giving
evidence OF an interest or even curiosity on the par
OF the public towards the Institute or its proceedings
Its annual fairs are the only demonstration that cal
forth any thing like popular approval or sympathy
but II is doubtful whether there would not be usl
the same patronage extended to fairs of any other
kind, or held for any other purpose, no matter how
different in their objects. Moreover the Common
Council may sincerely think that the Marine Court
porfant the American Institute and that the bene
hts OF the former are far more Indispensable and tan
gibe than those OF the latter.
Assuming such to be the views of the Corpora
ton, we do not perceive the proprlety of den0un-
cling them for applying that portion Of their proper
" used by the Institute to the wants OF the Ma
rine Court, nor do we see becoming dignity in the
conduct of its officers and members in imputlne
dscreditable motives to, and declaIming against
the Common Council On the other hand, there Is
good reason that the Institute should feel annoyed
at being turned out. We understand when the last
ten years lease granted of their rooms, they ex
pended considerable to put them in repair
that they got them in ruinous and filthy condition,
| and by an outlay of money and labor, put them IN
their present decent and convenient form. All this
is crcditabe TO the managers, but IS the evidence OF
their torethOught quite apparent therein! 1t would
have been much more prudent in them to provide
against the evil Of uncertain tenure before they
underwent serious outlay than trust to the chapter
| of chances, which is now turning out adverse. We
know the then Corporation was very friendly to the
Institute and proiessed to see in it grand instru
that the report OF the Committee to whom was re
tered the application for the lease, spoke in hater-
ing terms of the Institute. All this may have indu
ced the latter to confde too much, or become for
getfu OF the fact that Corporations as well as popu
larlty, have very evanescent existence, and that II
by no means followed, that because the Institute
cherished ten years ago, that 1t should be so to-
day.
With one remark more we drop the subject. 1t is
undoubtedly the right OF the city fathers to dispose
OF their property they please. 1t Is their privilege
and their duty to examine the pretenions and weigh
the claims OF the American Institute. II they con-
slider its utility great and its influence sautary, they
ought TO take II by the hand and render substantial
assistance; but if they seriously believe its high pre-
tensions untounded, and that it can be dispensed
wi III without any detrment to the artzan, the agi-
cuurlst, or the public generally, they under
obligation to listen TO the remonstrances OF the Anne
rcan Institute, nor bind themselves by precedents
set by Corporate ten years ago.