Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-11-21

mind. We have done so because this po- |
sition is too clear for controversy The
point is generally conceded. 1t must be
so. For since the mind is in such close
proximity with the body, and operated on
through this medium, whatever tends to |
develope the powers and organs of the body |
must by consequence tend also to impart |
strength and activity to the faculties of the
mind. Hence Horace prays for sound
mind in sound bodg.
But the favorable position of the
american scholar IS seen no less an the ca
u1 than in the physical condition of has
country.
Peace is within her walls, and prosper
ity within her palaces The American
Scholar is freeman. He is free political
y, socially, civi1ly, ecclessiasttcaul, physs-
cally and intellectually. By freedom, II
do not understand kawyess liberty. But l
mean that which governs but to benefit,
and restrains but to bless and advance
Such was obviously the idea of our fathers
in the establishment of our government,
when they gave to us a national existence
and name The American scholar is not
discouraged, oppressed and burdened by
an exacting government. He is not slave
to cumbrous and long established customs.
He is not cog in a system of machinery
moved only at the will of despotic ruler.
Nor is he bound to any system of religions
much less to one which would blunt the
moral sensibilities, torpify the energies and
faculties of the mind, and close up every
avenue of light to the human soul.
Everything fosters and invites to free
enquiry; and searching, independent, and
original thought. Freedom of speech is
allowed to an extent e9ualled in no coun-
try on the face of the globe. There is no
limit to the soarings of mind but that which
has been assigned it by the Creator himself.
Every man is left to follow the bent of his
own genius; to publish and proclaim, with
out fear of molestation, the results of his
observation and labor; and like his own
country's eagle to soar untrammelled
whithersoever his inclination leads him to
60.
The government itself is a friend and
patron of sound learning; and reaches out
helping hand to her worthy sons, strug.
Cling for literary distinction and usefulness,
thus affording them the strongest possible
incentive to unremitted activity, diligence
and application Added to this is the ad
ditional fact that the government is an elec.
tive one; and every citizen, whether h'
sprang from the dunghill, the cottage, O
: : the palace, may aspire to any post of hon
? or, trust, -or emolument within the gift O
:" the nation. know that the elective fran
chise furnishes an occasion for the frequen
triumph of demagogueism and fippanc,
: over genuine, but modest merit; and ye
e it is not the less true that decided intel
! lectual greatness, based upon sound mora
n principles, does not fail in the course o
Il time to rise to that point of eminence an,
d position of influence to which its SUPERIOR
J, ty entities it. The sun may be obscure
C for time, but it will not be always so.-
e The vapors must flee, the clouds subsid
e and leave it unobscured to pour down fror
, its elevated position food of light, to i
h lumine, warm and bless the world. Th
7. American scholar has every thing to en-
n courage him, both in the physical and pc
d litical condition of his sphere of action. 0
O. every hand there is an encouraging voic
p inviting him upward and onward to glor
lie and to fame.
$, But the circumstances already refe
I'd red to are rather the promotives than tt
De essentials to intellectual development. "
ce shall now proceed to notice more partic,
~ larly the literary advantages of the Ant
sy ricdn Scholar. They are as absolutel
st, necessary to the growth, consummation an
ic maturity of the mental stature, as 9TH
RS aliment is to the maturity of the physic
es system. And upon examination we sha
We find that these advantages-so essentia
ar are scattered with no less bountiful har
h than those Of nature and of government.
ob l. With the fullest assurance of the tru
nd of what l say, I hesitate not to assert tn
the literary advantages afforded by o
ry country to her sons, are unequalled-L W
ne not say unsurpassed-by those of any I
aln ton now in existence. This, know, m
Ter strike some minds as new, and others m
ma consider it even chimerical. For l am 7
ny ignorant Of the fact that there are many
are be found in our country, at the present d
os even, who seem to think nothing peri
Tile and complete unless it has taken a voys
lry across the Atlantic. The youth must
rdy away to Germany to get the proper dim
,py sions of his goatee, and the exquisite C
be- of his delicate nsoustache. The bonnet
ned the miss Of sixteen must have the Paris
OF touch and be perfectly Ia mode accord
bu- to the standard of the old world-or i
OF utterly worthless and disgustingly into
'am able. Our spelling must be frenchi6ed
rd we are decidedly behind the age.
3 OF country must import iron to build her I
ges roads, when Columbia's thousand hills
our res ting upon peruginous base. And
raw American Scholar, in the estimation
not some, is not worthy of literary distinct
as and of exalted excellence, however b
rsal the tribunal from which he has recei
that his credentials, until he has made
be- to the regions of monarchy and taken
tive from the Pierian springs of the Europ
en-. Universities. Such spirit is beneath
Entail dignity of our name and our origin.
de- for one, gentlemen, claim the RI
anly utterly to repudiate the idea that Anne
lat II is inferior in any particular to any ma
alton under the wide canopy Of heaven:
best more particularly do | believe this t.
at OF true in regard to the literary advanti
what which che Possesses and affords. Blu
that are not disposed to rest this matter =
bare assertion. Facts there are IN al
dance to sustain the position and to