Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-10-04
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
PLEA FOR SCIENCE IN AMERICA.
For young and aspiring nation, before wkich
extends an ever-wdeniDg historic vista, it s Of She
t6sst momens rightly to choose its itclss As 70 :.
wounx nan ~tsss sleetsoa 0f his shriRes k4So 0he
whole current Of his earh-csurse, 90 DO ~ en>e
of youxg naion's love and reverence s66rd :
criterion whereby to forcknow it's future, Never
did nation furnish such incentives TO assume the
prophetic rhythm as does Tins body polite Of Uni-
ted States, in membership Of which we live. The
scenes enacted with theatrical rapdity on the bust
ling area Of American life seem dream-llke and
phansasmagorial when compared with the sober
pages Of olden history; yet history exhibits no
more solid-limbed reality than these unstudied
ougushings Of vitality and adolescence. Which
ever way our national purposes tend, thither will
our progress be-, and formidable indeed must be
that obstacle which can long Illustrate any settled
intent of nation so vital and impetuous as ours.
Hitherto our naaioasl strength has been chiefly
spent in the pioneers battle-in forest tanning and
field conquest in mih building, and road consruc-
tions, in erecting physical and political home,
meet for the heir apparent to earts airest estate.
During her natal century, America is to fix and
predestrate countless centuries of her future de-
velopment. Hard work and strenuous endeavor
is the lot Of her young life, and from this stern
schooling must spring that positive and high-striv-
ing character which will exalt her to pre-eminence
among the nations. We ought fully to realize that
among the great America is soon to be the greatest
since with this manifest destiny" is also allied a
manifest duty. 1t is our duty to excel not only
in acres, lakes rivers, grain, cattle, and steamboats,
but in all those lofty moral and intellectual attri-
butes which, amid the dying years, die not Be-
ing, whether we will or no, sponsors to unborn
generations, we cannot blamelessly be insignificant
We live not only to mean something and do some
thing for ourselves but to radate influences which
shall struggle on to times remotest verge. The
greatness Of America must not be that of the ele-
phant, massive and adpose, nor should any pam
theon Of antique ideals furnish our model of her
future. She must grow true to herseE and no
reproduction of fossil.
Let our choice of idols be made in view of our
national position and prospects; Of what we really
are and what we ought to be. State is not made
great by those idolators whose first worship is to
wealth, station, or notoriety; who sell souls for
houses and furniture; who prefer spoils to recti-
tude, or seeming rich to being honest Long onn"eh
has man worshipped carved wood and stone, and
bowed the knee to Baal or the neck to Juggernaut.
Long enough have nations chased phantasmal glory
through fields of slaughter. Let there be an end
to the worship of bad idols. We are now sum-
moned to nobler services, the doing of which shall
waken peans Of unmixed JOY through the vast hall
of future time.
Among the many pathways Of endeavor which
lies inyiGngly open to America, there IS one OF
eminent promise to ourselves and to the whole fra
ternity of man. Henceforth, in our creed, let ale-
piance be confessed to that true science which is
the sworn Interpreter of Gods thoughts and pur-
poses, as embodied in creation. We are stimulated
10 the cultivation Of science in all its wide diversity
of spheres, by every motive Of patriotism, phllan-
thropy, ambition, and interest. No observing mind
can fail to perceive how thoroughly our systematic
knowledge of Nature is entwning itself through
all the highways and byways of common life.
And if this be true during the very youth OF SCI
ence, who can say what manifold ministries will
be rendered as it grows to full maturity An almost
unrecopnised worker in the secluded lanes OF life,
with no bravery of apparel or splendors of circum-
stance, Science, like new Ceres, has poured out
her gifts on man, lavishing them with such prou-
sion that gratitude and even recognition are but
phlegmatically rendered.
Yetit is not for praise or profit alone that the
true artist of science lives and abors. His soul is
alive 10 the grandeur Of his vocation. It is enough
to FIRE even dull spirits with somewhat OF high
purpose, to dwell in that close communion with
Gods own thoughts and doings which is the very
atmosphere Of him who, with pure heart and single
tnOugnt, lnterrOgateS natuIc OClcHCc, iishHy ~
called is but the systematic truth it is in nature
which in turn is but the embodiment Of God's
chosen thoughts. The natural philosopher is such
only in proportion to his skill in deciphering that
Divine love which is, as it were, vitalzed in the
universe Of matter and spirit. The soul of man is
made great by striving for good and exalted ends.
Creation lies before US, full of meaning, full OF all
that the most divine Of men would long to know
but creative wisdom has shrouded that lore in de-
signed obscurity, that man might become strong and
noble of soul by his very efforts after knowledge
Mans mind can have no nober exercise, none
more conformed 10 divine intent, than when thus
struggling for insight into nature.
Of all things human, science alone will be i'm
mortal on the earth. The memory Of human deeds
dies, mans proudest monuments crumble away,
and even the lliad already lives only as toad in
rock. But the profound generaIities of a Newton
Lavoisier, or Cuvier have the wide world for
their area, all ages and nations for their witnesses
God for their author, and eternity for their duration
Each passing age, with solemn mockery, consirns
lis thousands Of heroes and statesmen immortali
ty; but the foliage Of their glory is deciduous and
our memories are saved the fearful porterage. Yet
that man who thinks great thoughts, fitted to grow
into the life of our race, though mortal both in body
and inname, leaves on earth fountain of undying in
fuence. II is the eminent prerogative OF science
that all its true and able votaries contribute to an
intellectual temple, which must stand forever, be-
- aI d.,ro tho m orp and more into