New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-26
ing there concerns the honor and interest Of the

WIS The paramount INTENTION winch LED VT. Sn4snS
son 10 bestow tlis splendid gifs on the people OF
the United Stares II was homage paid 70 The
most sbsolute UniyeDality, TO true Democracy
and Republication. In this spirit alone, was the
endowment made; in thi, spirit slOne, was It his
purpose TO promote the cause Of general enlight
enment In his mind, the kno Wedge 70 be diff
fused was to GO hand in hand, and be injissolubly
blended with the unique social life of this country
1t was to enligh,en the masses and net TO CRAFTY
the few; 20 reach the people TO know their duties
% well as their rights; to unfold, more distinct
ly, within them, the tue dignity Of manhood
developed by freedom and selfgosernment He
desired as far as possible to bring to the door OF
the lowest and poorest all sttsinsole faculties
for genuine social cultivation and mental growth.
Suith,on could not have intended merely TO pat
ropize the labors OF certain select learned infl-
yidusls, tu, rather to contribute toward forming
an enlightened and heightened nation. To this he
cave his mite. Il ia evident that along with
this paramount aim, and as means OF ad-
vsncing it, the natural sciences, and all useful
discoveries in them, were considered by the
founder a. deserving the highest consideration.
But the true value of all scientific research Is its
assistance to the human mind in not merely
comprehendiDg, but in practically mastering na-
ture and rendering its powers snd elements sub
servent and useful. Thus considered and ap-
piled Science elevates hu nanity, physicslly and
morally: its iDfueuces for the well-being ofmsn'
Kind and the general prosperity of the masses.
- %ta Oh af NJ NJ Gnnith h
SOD to render the Institute Immediately useful to
the people He thought to confer a benefit on
society by the very publicity which was TO char
acterize all its operations; but, instead Of this, we
now find secresy, narrow mindedness, and shall
low tpirit of exclusyeness monopolizing me SUI
premscy In all mstters appertaning to the con-
duct Of the Inst tuition. And now, We ask those
persons who direct its affairs in this hidden and
peculiar manner, TO instance, in the smallest de-
gree, any result of their superior wisdom, by
which the cause of general intelligence has been
promoted or extended. Have they, in the most
remote way, been instrumental in dffusing knowl-
edge, upon a sI gle useful subject, among the
masses Has any phase of society derived bene'
fit or advantage from the existence, the labJrs or
the resources of this Institution!
A considerable part of the means of the estab-
lisbment have been deTOed TO few trivial expert
nents-resesrches, rather than discOveres-in
some physical branches of knowledge; and it is
with justice that The National Era calls til
"pby steal establishment" But, had it been the
design of Smithson to ass. only ia the cultiya-
ton of the physical science, aad those abstruse
studies which are Incompetent Die t. the gen.
crafty Of men, surely he would not have be-
questhed this valuable legacy to the American
people, but would rather have left the money to
his own country, or some other European State.
Such establishments are only adapted TO the pc
culiarities Of European society, where the pur-
suite of science are circumscrbed, and restricted
to the select few. But, in the mind of Smlthson
scer ce was general and the initiation in it of the
democratic body of the people was prominent
object. This great conception, could only be
realized here in America; to America, therefore,
he bequeatbe his fortune. But We have dis
torted bis will, aud misuDder stood, or rather
wiliully perverted. his intentions. Beautiful and
costly editions of minute and erudite dsquisitions
on paeontology and fossology, which, from their
intrinsic inutility could hardly have found any
other publisher, charm the patrician eyes to
whom they are forwarded by the Institute.
They earn the applause of saysnts, bristling with
de COZ aioDs, and with various titles of official dig
nifty. These results of Smithsonian labors are
sbelved in splendid libraries, and then covered
with dust, to molder there. How very different
would be the result, if really popular and
useful science, social morality humanitarian
philosophy, and the rights aud duties Of
mankind to society had been made the
subjects of their lucubraticns, and the pri-
mary objects of the Institution. 1t may
be that such publications would not have
been welcome in royal closets; but, answering to
the intentions Of the founder, they would have
made their way into the sanmon schools Of our
States-thOse cradles and u1Rseres Of free, intel
gent men. In this manner ne masses would
have been benefited, and the words Diffusion
"ofUseful knowledge" would have appeared to be
something more than specimen Of phraseology.
But nothing like this has been done. meager
cabinet of natural curiosties, and most defective
library are the sole tangible results within the
reach of the Anne 'ican people, and these only to
be visited and wondered at on account of their
intrinsic poverty, and the time and money which
have been so unscrupulOu,y wasted upon them.
smitbson having in his WILL explicitly stated
his intention, could not do otherwise than leave
to the practical sen,e Of the American people the
manner of carrying out his generous wish. He
left 1t to the judgment of the nation how to apply
the bequest in the most profitable manner, with
respect to the necessities Of our social state-to
the spirit of the sge-and to the life of our