New-York daily tribune., 1856-08-19
can say what part Of science is not Of practical
vaue, or may not to-morrow be applied to use

vaiue, or may not to- morrow be applied 10 Use.
An interesting field Of invest CATION might b.
found in the come cton between ScieIce aud De-
mOcrucy All history, ancient and moccrn sho ~
this connection to be real. Science has fourlsheC
In each country somewhat in proportion tn the
democracy of its form Of government; and, con-
versty, all schools Of science have imbued the
students with more or less Of democratic zeal
The revolutions of la45 absolutely depopulated the
observstores Of Europe-a significant fact 10
showing the political bias of scientific students.
1t il easy to see some of the causes of this mutual
reaction of Science and the spirit Of Free
dom upon each other In free government,
the spirit Of individual independence leads to
freedom Of thought and OF investigation; and the
extepsion ofpubc instruction, 10 all classes rem
oers it certain that every Of scientific tastes,
will receive also the gift Of an education, enabling
b'm TO pursue his investigations to advantage.
On the other hand, the scientific student, having
tasted the sweets Of Intellectual freedom, and
learned 10 bow to 10 authority but that Of the Rsa-
son deciding upon Truth, cannOt willingly yield to
any human government, but tha, Of the Reason d.
cidpg upon what is Right. The influence OF Sci
erce is radical, since it leads to freedom from s
restraints but those Of Truth; and yet it is 10 the
highest degree conservative, since it eIalts the
rea.on above impulses; 1t sanctions true denoc
racy, in which the liar judgment rules, while
lis sets always open t. revision and correction
ss lew litht is obtained and new fac!s established.
another Influence Of the meetings Of the Amerl-
can Association for the Advancement of Science de-
serves mer ton. Abody of FIVE hundred men, holding
high positions in their own communities, cannot be
thus annually drawn together from all parts of the
ULion and spend week in harmonious consultation
upon the highest interests of the race without
some apprecable effect in binding them together,
and creating a mutual respect for each other,
above all sectional pride sectional antipa.hies.
BY their concerted action they have also influenced
both State aud Congressional Legislators to recog-
niz. tie interests Of Science as truly national inter-
ests-human interests Of the highest importance,
independent of all party issues.
Tie papers read at Albary may not prove to be
Of much interest to the general reader, a. they WILL
of cour.e be prepared by special investigators, aud
dCult 10 tuOet luttItslcu
TIE Debates in like manner, that are proper and
peculiar to the body, will be upon special scientific
questions, in which the public cannot usually take
direct interest. A reporter at q scientific meet
ing is under stropg temptation to make bis report
more spicy for the public, BY passing lightly
over the real discussions of the OCCASION and mag
ntybg what Little personalities may occur into
dbpropoitoDate prominence We shall of
course, endeavOr, in our rep rte of the Albany
meeting to avoid this misrepresentation, and give
to our readers picture Of each days dougS there
as interesting as the truth will admit, but at all
events true picture; and we have no doubt that it
will show the Association to be, as is has been one
Of the most truly dlgnIfed bodies in the country.
The meetings are open and the charlstan and quack
may display their preensoDs there; but, fortunate-
ly, in science it is much easy than il is in ar
tisiic prefer sona or political life to detec: and
expose the fallacy, and reveal the sublime and un
ctaDeeable Truth.