Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-05-22
Democracy OF Science.
BY JOSIAH HoLBRooK.
No. 2.

The elements Of science are purely democratic
They are in all places at all times, and obedient
to their own laws, never swerving an iota. Each
renders aid to all the rest-together making per-
feet and glorious whole.
One OF these elements constitutes about half of
our glohe-the animal, vegetable, and mineral
Kingdoms. This most abundant element is also
the most powerful agent in the workings of
science. 1t is in all and for all created things, or
nearly So 1t heaves our lungs lights and fans
our fires decks our forests and all creation with
their beautiful hues shivers mountains into
rocks, and crumbles rocks into Soils converts
soils into the majesty of a forest the verdure of
plain, and the richness of garden; changes
the products of forests, plains and gardens into
beasts of the field, birds of the air, fishes of the
sea, buzzing insects, and all creeping things:
with the whole of animate nature, embracing
the lords of this lower creation, having dominion
over the whole.
This same element and agent in our vast crea-
ton assimil4tes things the most diversified and
opposite and again separates into atoms things
ass inflated by the most intimate and perfect
union. 1t is constantly performing services
the most dissimilar and opposite in charac-
ter and yet always in perfect harmony, COM
pletey carrying out the great designs of the Crea
tor of ALL In most of the woodworking Of
this wonderful world, this one agent is always
present, and always active, but can only act with
and for all kindred agents, however diversified
their offices or dissimilar their work. 1t yields
strict obedience to its own laws, and yet is de.
pendant upon the same obedience from all the
rest, in their respective agencies, for accomplish
ing the grand work of this created universe. If
such is the abundance of one element, and such
the power of one agent, and both one and the
same, who can doubt but the knowledge of it
should be as widespread as its existence or its
power?
How strange, then, how mysterious, that those
protesting to mould pliable young beings by the
elements of science, so wisely designed for them
by the Author both Of the beings and the science,
sshould have them in charge, month after month
and year after year, and not once exhibit to them
the most abundant element, or even name one
office OF this most powerful agent, The mystery
is more mysterious when it is known, as every
one must know, by the avidity with which every
young spirit drinks in such knowledge, that the
highest possible delight is added to the richest and
most enduring instruction, by supply to their
bodies, minds, and souls of food SO evidently and
so abundantly provided for them
But thanks be to science and to humanity that
a mighty change is coming over our country and
the world in the kind of knowledge taught, and
the modes Of teaching il. Instruction is in Il
rapid transition from words to things, from signs
Of ideas to ideas themselves from shadow to SUBJ
stance; from saying.to doing from speculation
10 production from consolidation TO diffusion
from few TO the whole.
NoTE-The name of the element and agent
presented above is deferred to o future OCCASION
that teachers may have the privilege Of first pre-
senting it to their pupils, and parents to their
children.