New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-10-03

and Grotius in past age and Soushsy Ia the pre-
nent are perhaps as remarkable examples OF en-
,husia site devotion to IetterR az any shan can be
named; bat however retired their personal habits,
no men surpassed them in their cen interest In
rent politics. and their genial activity in the discus
zion Of practical affairs. Had these eminent sohol
ars been prey to the literary dilessanteism against
which Mr. Raymond inveighs 80 earnestly, it is
chance if their names would have been heard Of
beyond the walls Of their Libraries
Especially do theae views, according 20 Mr. Ray
nond, apply to the position OF the scholar in our
own country.
The American Scholar is member Of Amer
can sooety q In Identified with its interests and
bound up in its destiny. And upon him In s pecu'
liar deeree, az possessed of peculiar Pc r,-de-
wolves the duty of guiding its energies, shaping its
character, and determining its fate. The know
edge he has acquired, the discipline be has under
zone are intended TO give him clearer insight than
other men poisess, into the complex energies thai
constitute ,s vitality, and thus to give him greater
power in guiding them to nobls and beneticent
erda Society ie not wholly mechanical, ror il it
wholly intellectual. It's interests beoDg 10 both
depertmens and its progreGs consists in The devel-
oprnent and Gdvsnceme Mt Of both. And this devel'
opment in each, dependE upon knowledge and
mastery OF the rincipes,-the fixed, inherent,
controlling laws by which both are shaped. Now
that knowledge and that mastery, it ia the specific
object Of scholarship to confer. The gpeciAl pur-
pose OF those to which colleges and universities are
every where devoted, is to make tue student at
home among the secret springs OF oil focls life to
give him clear com prehensive and accurate
knowledge of the principles and the laws OF SOCIAL
growth so that he may labor with more intelil-
eepce, with greater precision of purpose and With
more complete success for ite promotion All his
studies tend, or should, to the reault. BE haE
atodied the ancient anguages-those standing
miracles of philosophy and OF shought-and has
leerne By thus examining the power and na'n!e
of words" which are, in Lord Bacon's phrase "the
footsteps and prints OF reason, how Language con-
tributes to the development OF thought, and she
growth OF social character. He has studi3d The
history of other natons aud has traced out the &C.
crcs Syringe Of their strength, and the progress Of
their decsy and death Hehas pondered the words
and the acts of great men who have guided ia.
song and shaped the character Of Whole ages, Az
hes leaned to follow them, with intellgeu, vision,
etep BY step on the shining path which they Iu-
Il med He hsg looked in, stleast upon The won.
drous arrangement of Natures divine machinery,
ard haa learned the principles and the laws u 21n
=hich the power AID order and harmony OF the
uAivelsed eperd h has hsd hisrehectlons turned
bsck upon bic own mind, and haa thus learned the
!nwa Of thoueht,-thc rules which reason lmpo'es
upcn the operations Of the inlelectEhe Influences
which direct and cOrtrol the actions OF men. And
the ytsnit of an ibis stu3y ard I'll tbs d,cpne,-
ir ~. b.ro tce1 nurz,yod sriFht-has boon ia
aivs Kim Ter ,s9.,er over nstlro and over man,
TO send him forth into society armed with higher
fecutier OF vision and Of scicn, than the nlhsa o!
i,ia fellow men possess. Be can see more clearly
ho tender cies Of events he uod srstsuds more ac-
Gu ately tn grounds and the rorb Of current opin
jQu, 10 forerees Nth more certainty tho result OF
any move mont: he estinetes 1nore correctly the
taeight Of f3ec;ol n7osiyeg: he Knows more OF tho
q st,cter Of III social Influences and can guide
iham better. oDpose them if necessary Nth more
spcctse. infuse into them The elements Of heahfuI
nov er which thew lsoh, 4it exert over all social
ntvements snd terderciee and speculations, a
steRier Il better, and more benefcert coaro than
Ltose who have lot enjoyed tho discipline which
Gas gwen hilD 'flD l,o"ef. = 'a ~. w A.
b.',yafbe 3fi9cples-ti.c Inherent e. ergtss vhicf
cclAtitute js HE, and BY which alone its Growth is
pofn5e
"a ,o u rs ""! No 1z o il s5o,o
2c,cn he Iiyce, and wnoee welfare h is boun4 to
serve. In this country especially, 10 man can DC
wh0iy pllya'e cls?zenno n11p can ''lEo Oh Az
eminent, the y LoIo structure of cur inatitutoaF,
make every msn distinct componel part OF that
ecvcroien power which eives laws to the state,
form to societv and character to tue natior Il is
bent, the efore upon cvory ems 60 tauo hocn
part his faculties fl him to perform in the pub
lie buaiuesg Of society and the state. Every Ame-
rcnn ie OF necessity In the 0rlslnElmeanln6 " the
word, polattc1an, charged wlth the care and tne
conduct Of public affairs And me American scnoisr
hes certainly no right to withdraw IRON tue per.
formsnce of pubic duties, because he H. or ought
TO be, preeminently qualified to perform them
Alright. The State needs bis beat saryices Amer.
lean Socie ty-ihe deetny OF the greatest nation OF
its age the world bag ever seen,-demands hla
beat endesvors to shape it's character, and direct
it's oourte. Why uhould sooy scholar,-any man
animated 7flth the courage lnsPred oy the onthq'
slz&m, and gifted Win the power which true schol-