The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-03-03
The Struggles of the Past, Present ana
Future.


As the elements Of civilization and progress be-
come more and more developed, causes seem 10
bring about results with such rapidlty that the
chief business of philosophy has come to consist
rather in recording events in the daily newspapers.
than the analysis Of their causes IN huge volumes.
The scholastic age has passed away forever.
Science has left the university, and begun its pill
srmsge over the world. Learning no longer hides
in the recesses Of the convent, but has begun to
difuse itself among mankind. Literature, even,
is now bursting away from the shackles Of libra
Iies and books, and flashing on its coud-born mis-
sion among the million, with the rapidity Of the
telegraph. Monoposts IN learning have become
as odious those government; end the few
black letter men su left, who are more welded to
old things by the force OF educatlon and prejudice
than they ever were truth, are compelled to re-
lax their hold upon the past, TO wrese with the
Qualities of the present, and contemplate the STIR
ring prospects of the future In Europe, the strug-
gle between the past and the present has unsettled
.ocirty, and men are now prepared for any change
whatever. What the future of the Old World will
be, no man can foretell; bat the same causes
which were long ago developing the mighty eff.
ects we have witnessed in this country, although
more slow in their operation abroad, are none the
less sure. Monarchy, aristocracy priestcraft, I'M
authorized and irresponsible power and dominion
OF every kind, must pass away. Institutions which
have locked up the secrets OF science, which have
monopolzed the blessings Of creation, which have
limited the range Of light, and truth, and freedom,
which have cramped, and crushed, and enslaved
the human mind. are giving over their Intellectual
struggle with destiny, and slowly but surely they
are sliding from their foundations. The popular
sentiment Of mankind, among all enlightened ma
tons, Is tending towards more liberal state Of
society. Even Plus IN, who, IN his office, has
been regarded as the most sacred of all men hold
ing power on the earth, and who, IN his person,
was regarded with more venerailon than any other
man who has lived in modern times-not excepting
even Washington himself-was compelled the very
hour that he put himse in opposition to the progress
OF the age, to fly romhIs own capital; and although
many wise prophecies have been made about his
speedy return TO Rome, yet, from the beginning.
we have insisted that that event would be delay ed
for considerable time, If il took place
for, with fifty thousand French muske,s as body
guard, he knew that he was not safe in his own
capital. Even LOUIS Napoleon, who was elected
by larger popular vote than was cast even for his
great uncle, after his most brilliant victories has
been compelled to surround himself with a larger
and more formidable military defence than ever
waited on the PRIDE Of Louis XIV, or on the Sc
curity Of LOUIS Philippe. A combination far more
powerful than has ever been known before against
Tree principles, took place after the recent revo-
iutions, to crush republicanism IN Europe and
although for a while it may seem to have tr,-
rmphed, yet who supposes that even the Car Of
Russia would not sleep more securely in his pa
lace. il he felt that he had Kossuih beating the
snow Path of Siberia more stirring spectacle
for the friends Of progress hardly be conceived
than that heroic Hungarian, prisoner, shut up
within the gloomy walls Of the old Moslem city
Of Shumla, the object Of dread and apprehension
on the part Of every prant, and &C unbounded adj
miration on the part of everybody else That
dcfenceless, unarmed prisoner, Is a more terrible
object to Nicholas, and he is more dreaded in
Vienna. than Napoleon was with hrs four hundred
aud fifty thousand soldiers, on their march to Rus
sa. The age - changed opinions now control
mankind, and monsrchs themselves know that
they must. sooner or later, bend to the universal
convictions OF mankind.
We see, even in our country, on pretty small
scale some curious attempts to resist the progress
Of the age but they are only noisy eddIes in the
tide places of the Rrea, stream which PUSHES
oesseessly and uresistibly on One OF the feeblest
and most ridiculous displays 81 this kind that
has come to our knowledge, occurred few
evenings since. IN the chapel OF the New York
URversiiy. where a Professor. IN letter 10 a
Teachers Association, deliberately undertook 20
show that the colleges Of the United States
could not meet the cxigencies of the times.
unless N their system of education they gave up
oil innovations upon tao system Of the past,
and went back TO the r5is Of the black.le,ter age
we are cure that the announcement Of such doe.
trine would have only brought a smile upon the
hp Of Or. Pussy and his followers in Oxford Ia
Cambridge, such twaddle would have beea an
swsrsd by sneer. In New York, we presume
% w,ll he treated with contempt
Nov, that the present system Of education ia
cole sea in America does not answer the exi-
ReBcies Of The times can hardly be denied. In
this PROPOSITION the Professor would End no
great difference between his views and those Of
other people; bat we can see that there would be
pretty broad difference between him and the public.
II the inquiry were instituted into the reasons
uhy ibIs fact y 80. The only accasiiioa which