Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-05-18
UasH1Nsros .kws AND sossrp.

oil ject Of National (Gevernment ooncernment
as the academy of West Point, though the man
ner in which ithas been and is to be managed
by the authorities of the nation, differs widely
from the system properly in vogue in the mat
ter Of the National Military School There
IL growing disposition in both houses of Con-
aress to make the Institute an affair, in its
way, worthy Of % great and rapidly increas.
| ing country as ours, lis true, many mem
bers are strongly Indeed, uncompromisingl,
opposed to the existing connection of the Gov
| eminent with its affairs, and still more vehem.
emily opposed to the idea Of consolidating and
increasing its dependence on the Government
fheir opposition, however, can avail little Un-
| der these circumstances it is the duty of all in
Congress to look to it, that it shall be so man
aged, as really to do most in the way of sin
oreasing knowledge among men"-the intent
Of its wise and really public-spirited founder.
Now, it is well known In Washington that
those in whose hands its present management
rests, differ widely among themselves, as to the
proper sphere Of its labors and usefulness
| all its funds should be devoted to the end of
publishing, for gratuitous circulation, scientific
tracts and works, the result in most cases of
researches performed at its expense and under
Its immediate auspices, and, so far, upon very
asstrase subjects for the most part. They
conceive that il would be well 10 get rid of the
Institute building, if we are not mistaken by
sale to the Government, TO be used by the lat
terror any purpose for which it may besuitable.
The other party conceive that the sphere of
its usefulness is in making it, first, great
depository Of knowledge in the shape of
scientific and American historical library;
and, next, a diffusof of useful knowledge in
the shape of lectures afforded to seekers after
useful information without price. To this
end, they are said TO propose that the first
men in all branches Of scientific knowledge,
who can lecture in the English language, shall
be employed. They hold that if such lecturers,
and none others, are thus brought into the
institutes service, the newspapers and zoien-
t}fle 5aEfnals ct the day will SC after hundreds
of thousands Of vsrbatim copies Of all their
efforts far and wide, without throwing penny
| of the expense Of their publication on the
Smithsonian fund. In this they are correct
beyond all question, for every word uttered by
Agassiz, for instance, in their hall, has been
multiplied in print hundreds of thousands Of
| times without expense to tho Institute
This party to the contest expect that if their
plan be carried out, the Institutes library
being ultimately the best for practical pur-
poses in America, will draw hither students
from all quarters Of the country and will, by
its Inducements, enlist great many persons
Of means, taste, and leisure, to become not only
themselves seekers after knowledge in its
| tones, but ardent aiders and abettors of its
purposes and labors. They hold, too, that
| such lectures as they propose, cannot regu
larry be delivered there free Of cost to the
| student, without superindhciDg an immense
| attendance Of seekers after such knowledge
| from every State in the Union, who will, in
| turn: scatter themselves throughout the land
to the great benefit Of its existing stock of
| useful knowledge.
As far as we can perceive, the main question
| at Issue is, the amount of practicability which
shall characterize the future of the Institute,
the publishing party being in favor of contin-
ing its efforts for the most part to the elucida-
ton of very abstruse science. That is, to the
| better education of those who are, in turn to
| instruct teachers of science for the masses
The other party are evidently Of opinion
| that the Institute should not strive to take the
| lead in the field of scientific discovery, con.
filming its labors principally to that end be-
cause, as they allege, the older schools of Eu-
| rope can prosecute discoveries (abstruse inves-
tigations) much more advantageously than they
can be done on this side Of the Atlantic, and
at less than half the actual cost in money. to
accomplish as valuable results They hold,
further, that the knowledge sought to be DIFF
fused by an American institute should have
for its main object the immediate improvement
and benefit of our own people in their mate
rial interests, wherever they are to be advanced
by the diffusion Of practical science, SO as
| speedily to enable the American masses to
! profit by it,
We predict for these latter the eventual VIC
tory, because of the vein Of utilitarianism at
the bottom of their views. The day has hard
| IL yet arrived when America can be expected
to furnish facilities for the training of Hum
boldts. The foundation for such eventual IA
| ciiities must be laid previously, by increasing
scientific knowledge among the host of men in
America, who, though thirsting after know
| ledge, do not expect to become Humboldts in
the United States, in this day and generation
| Germany has been centuries in arriving at the
| point of scientific erudition which il 80 com
loon there Her great schools and institutions
| have not risen up IL day or an age They
| are The result of the scientific contributions Of
all Europe, for centuries We should learn
wisdom from her experience in such matters.
Postnaster's Privileges, or Exemptions -
We learn that the Post Office Department now
and then receive letters from deputy postmas-
ters, asking if their federal Office does no,
exempt them from doing the duty in repairing
roads, required Of them b. the laws of then
| several States, as citizens thereof The an.
| swcr is inyariably-No.
An Interesting Army Pay Question Dis
Doaed of-A Memorandum vos s.nt g., a.