Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-10-04

audsc,ics of higls-wrought fancy so quickly become
the sobrieties Of fact; where the excelsior spirit
makes the ul.imatum of to-day the antique OF to-
morrow where the sublimities Of nature make
man sublime and his life poetic; here shall science
ere long fix her habtaton, gathering the noblest OF
NATURES nobility into the phalanx OF her vo'aries
Great men shall be in our midst to whom the mys-
4eries of nature shall give up their secrets, ana the
powers Of aature become gentle ministers. new
intelligence, new morality, new religion snail
be developed in the life of man. Peace will reign,
not merely for economy's sake, but because of a
nobler and more loving human heart; OF spirit
chastencd and exalted by higher knowledge.
hundred years will not pass ere America shall have
ou,done all nations in her benefactons to science
in bringing philosophy and life into right relations
in humsnizing and energizing man through every
agency Of Intellectual supremacy and natural know
''Gl q 49, psstsAssss.sss ~ wholly false, i b.
,heaSm Shie pelo = ynlg6 IT, conception q ~
silSa q f. log6bhy. No governmentScr people
has ever yet fully comprehended the capacity Of
science to serve man. nor indeed is 1t likely that
the philosophers most over-wrought dream equals
the possible fact. The beginnings of all great sci
entifc benefactions have been clouded with opposi-
tion and stupid ridicule OF all requests preferred
the last to receive hearing, has been that Of the
single-minded man Of science, whose whole soul is
in doing that which makes man powerful and ma
tions great. The discoveries and inventions stfied
in our own land by ignorant distrust whitening In
difference, and malignant opposition, would be
worth thousand-fold more to man than the fruits
Of all the millions sunk in wars and political frauds
since our national BIRTH Itshould disgrace states
man not to know that great discovery in science
is worth more to mankind than even Buena Wis
ia or successful election. A few weeks since
Daguerre quietly passed from his earthly home and
mission. Mankind gave him few thousands OF
dollars during his life he gave mankind an art Of
value beyond the power of money to requite. 20
to log cabin in our Western wilderness, you will
find that it's pioneer-inmates, leaving the loved
ones Of their youth procured through this art pre-
cious images of those whom they were no more to
see. Those few plain cases are volumes of rich
poetry TO their solitary hearts; and how well are
they studied! When thousand years are passed
Buena Vista will be doubtful legend, but daguerre-
otypes will still, in some form bless every house.
hold, and aid the affections of every heart.
The value and claims of science are not to be es-
timated solely by its ostensible fruit Discoveries
come often from the most neglected and hopeless
fields. Perhaps greater than its economic value
is the worth Of that ofness of soul which its right
culture cannot fail to give. Science must, above
all, be kept free from every tant of venay. 1t is
almost the crime of Simon Magus to study nature
and philosophy only to compel their service at the
shrine of mammon. There is holiness in the
scientific pursuits Of pure-minded man which in
dignantly shrinks from the profanity Of sordid mo-
lives. No man worthy the philosophic stole can
forget chat he belongs TO fraternity ofhe greatest
and noblest spirits. Could he fall below his apos-
tleship, could he for moment desert his featy to
pure truth, he should expect scales his in
ward oyes, and ever Le s1lfioasIed
apostate.
In fine, let science be now TO this nation an OBJ
iect of high ambition and let its culture henceforth
engage larger portion of our strength. Let US,
while we bid good speed watch and strive TO keep
il true to it's mission Of benefcence to man and let
us take good heed that no conjurations of man.
mon be permitted to drive the living spirit from its
consecrated temple. +. b. II.