The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-13

do, 5oi; IS Erie r. II. "a.
Second Boord-5o00 Pennsylvania 6s, 76a; 90 Morris
Canal, 30,
Iron the same
New York, October IL, ls45.
Yesterday was clear, and as warm summer;
but about 6 p. m. it suddenly clouded up and pour
ed with rain. The fneness of the day had filed
the streets with promenaders, many Of whom were
ladies and children. The suddenness of the shower
caught many from home without an umbrella.
Large parties could be seSh standing under awnings,
waiting an opportunity to get seat in omnibus;
all of which were filed, over and over again, they
passed and repassed.
The Rev. DR.. Dewey was to have delivered
an address before the members and friends of the
American institute, at the church of the Messiah;
but the rain came on 80 severely, ! imagine few
attended.
For several years it has been the custom to hold
fairs in Philadelphia, New York, and Boston, for
the exhibition of works of art. In Philadelphia,
they are got up by the Franklin Institute, most
excellent establishment, formed with the laudable
design of promoting the arts and sciences In New
York, we have two institutions of kindred charac
er--the American Institute and the Mechanics In
sttute. 1t would have been much better if their en-
ergies had both been combined in one. The Amer
lean Institute has annually had fair, this being its
18th. Its usefulness, however, has been somewhat
marred by the false step and almost fatal error of
mngling its affairs with the creed of political par.
lty. Their administration took strong ground in ia
vor of protective tariff and as far as such an instit-
ton could do it, they acted exclusively with the
wing party. We are happy to learn that the inst-
tuition is to be cut loose from all party politics. and
devoted, it should be, to the interest of science,
arts, and agriculture.
In Boston, the Mechanics Association gives a
fair once in two years. They are generally very
good; one of which we attended, some years ago,
with decided pleasure and qualification. These fairs
are very useful. They afford an inventor oppor-
tunity of exhibiting his invention improvement
to the public, by which means it is often brought
into use. II also gives an opportunity to ingenious
artists and manufacturers to show the perfection of
their art and skill in the production of various nge
NOUS articles, necessary to the comfort of man,
and interesting as specimens of ornamental work.
Ii is most unnatural and unjust sentiment with
which the advocates of high protective tariff have
endeavored TO inspire the aboring mechanical classes
of our country, that all who oppose such measure
are necessarily opposed to them, and to manufac-
lures in general This is as false as it is unjust.
While we wish to see labor unfettered by unequal
and unjust taxation, the ardent admirers and
friends of American manufacturing skill, and would
be pleased to see it encouraged.
| never witness the triumph of mind over mat
ter--whether it be standing on the deck of an At
lantic steamship in the middle of the ocean, az
have done, amidst the whirl Of cotton-spndles in
Manchester or Lowell, or flying forth on railroads
or ploughing the bosom Of the Mississippi, or NOV
ing amidst the brilliant illumination Of gas lamps
seeing the conquest of intellect displayed in thou
sand other instanceswithout being filed with feel
ings Of gratitude and pride. With gratitude that
lived in an age when could witness such brilliant
achievements, such great strides of mind, of mental
victory over the physical laws of creation and OF
pride, that belonged to race which has made and
perfected the most important discoveries of modern
times.
To the .4nglo-Saron race belong the steam-engine
the railroad and locomotive the steamboat and steam
ship, the cotton-gin and the spnnng.jenny, the sex
tant and the chronomeer the discovery Of vaecina.
ton, iron-bult vessels and houses the improvement
of the printng-press to be worked by steam power
the printing of calico by rollers the first to light
city with gas and the first to erect magnetic tele
graph. These are they with the mind and labors o.
a Newton, Davy, and Dalton a Franklin and
Fulton, Whitney and an Arkwright, and Watt
with Bolton, which immortalize the Anglo-Saxor
race,
| IL is manufactures, arts, and science, which art
the great levers that "turn the wordn They are thu
mighty agents Of human progress in modern times
They are the harbingers, the supporters, and en-.
gines of modern civilization
Give the Indians the hoe and plough, the spindle
and the loom, and teach them how to use them, and
they will make greater progress in civilization thar
ten thousand abstract lessons Of sermonizing car
effect, however useful in their place.
Fairs are of very early origin. They are still
Ihe'e IN many VI tIc toWHs Vi England
and other parts Of Europe, some Of which we have
attended. They differ very widely from ourme.
chanic and institute fairs. The former are devoted
to traffic, to low theatrical and buffoonery shows
to frolic and amusement, drinking and carousing;-
where the mass gain no new ideas, and imbibe no
useful knowledge.
In London, our countryman, Jacob Perkins, at
tempted the establishment of perpetual fair in the
character of the ADELAIDE Gallery of Science; where
chemical and philosophical instruments were collect
ed, and where inventors THAT most useful and i'll
treated class of men) could at all times carry their
Inventions and improvements for exhibition. Pub
lie lectures were also daily delivered the entrance
fee to which was Is sterling. This succeeded SO
we'll that the Polytechnic institution was erected by
some noblemen and gentry, on the same but a more
liberal and extensive scale. In this place, six lee
lures are delivered daily The operation Of oil new
machinery is shown in every form, whether il be
intended to move in water, or by water steam, OF
other means. The establishment was well sup
piled with chemical and other instruments to be
employed in illustrating lectures. The entrance
was Is. To this establishment more than one hous
and pisifers resorted daily
Such institutions are not only better than the.