Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-08-29
KNOWLEDGE Is POWER.
BY DR.. L. L. CHAPMAN.

knowledge is power. This is an axi-
ON often spoken, but too specifically con-
sidered by the mass of mankind For
/ by far the largest portion of the human
race seem too much under the influence
of Incidence, or prejudice, or perverted
and selfish devotion to low physical pur-
suits and enjoyments, to appreciate, or
even to comprehend the value of any
knowledge, beyond what ministers direct
TO their avarice, ambition, or sensual
qualification.
knowledge is only another name for
truth as well as science. 1t includes ev-
cry agency as well as all consciousness of
happiness. Involving a just apprecia-
ton of our own faculties, as well as cor
rect perceptions of the lA.--. --E-y.e.-.s.s
the physical elements Of life, motion and
intelligence, and spreading out the limit
less field of progression before us. 1t
may truly be said, that if knowledge is
NOT the essential principle of human ex-
istence, that it is the fountain of all that
renders existence desirable.
But in the same ratio that knowledge
advances the welfare and happiness O
the human race, is error too often fatally
pernicious and destructive.
An item of knowledge, based upor
truth, may difuse benign influence, no
only over nations, but through successive
generations of mankind. So also sin
Gle error, even in science, may cloud tn
intellectual horizon, and give wrong di
rection to the policy, morality. and reli
gion of nations; ultimately plungin
them into the lowest depths of ments
debasement, and of physical oppression
servility, and suffering.
The most pernicious of all the error
of physical knowledge are those whic
! flow from wrong conceptions of thos
i physical laws which constitute the tru
element of the sublime science of astroi
Iomy.
G How far-jar beyond the limits Of lal
: guage to express, or of the human min
to conceive, has been the oppression az
o cruelty; the national, social, and indivi
's ual anguish, crime, and suffering viii
z has attended the dark and gloomy rel:
of Mythology! Extending its dark, mis-
'e shadows for not only one but many tho
y sand years, over the successive GAHaa..
T. tons Of almost the entire globe.
Yet Mythology, with its overwhclmi
/ deluge of human degradation, crime a
n woe, was the Legitimate offspring Of
I'D simple astronomical error! viz, that
I'd earth was irnmovabIe, and that all
ce, other heavenly bodies reyolyed arou
sly it.
he For how could rational or reflect
lp- mind contemplate the sublime order :
TO beautiful but Elusive harmony OF the
cts dereal movements, as they would app
vill by the hypotheses Of the earth's inn
! of bility III say, how could a raiiona
the reileeting mind contemplate such a v
nal derful display, and suppose It all e
yer the result Of chance?
And having lost sight Of the Cre'
and how could mankind suppose other
ath- than that these heavenly bodies
9th ruled by Gods, who directed their NJ
aim ments, and controlled The phenome'
we're nature and the destinies Of mankind
F: at Within a few centuries past, the
shed coyery and partial application Of ply
way, facts and forces. have given new
rain ton and energy to scientific researei
0 It's sulting in development which for
aieal utility and convenience liase