New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-11-28
MIR B1rRIINGAME IN THE ACADEMY.

The first lecture Of course in aid Of the Kane
Monument Association, was gwen last evening IN the
Academy of Music by the Hon. Arson Burllngame Of
Massachusetts,. The house was not crowded.
Previous To the lecture Dr. j. w. FRANCIS, IN a
short address, gave an account OF the formation OF
the Association and its objects and euogy on the
daring hero whose memory II was intended 10 per-
petuaie.
Mr.. BURLINGAsE devoted his lecture to proving the
progress Of sOcety-that continually growing
ws6r and better and feer He adverted 10 the general
ard prevalent feeling that the good times were the
good old times and that the golden age the Oldest
age Ii was but lately that the philosophy OF the pro-
gress Of the race had been declared receiving IT. first
clear statement from Descaries. Our own Anglo
Saxon race was one of the best proofs of human
progress Issuing from the clouds of barbarism 1t
merged into knighty war; then advanced into absolute
government which soon gave way TO government OF
law, and this in its turn made way for government
of the people. Mr. Burlingame attempted TO do justice
10 the noble patriotism of Wat Tyler, and the
grand power Of Cromwell. He believed thai
the race here in America had attained a higher
development than il had yet reached in England. In
deed progress had been regularly advancing the world
over from east to west. let not sigh for the good
old times and their heroes. We're any of them TO roam
back TO us We should feel that the world had suffered
from terrible earthquake. Burke bal slld that
the age Of ehiyalry was gone, and yet Washington
WAS then alive Compare the social virtues OF The
present and the past compare the brightest historic
perods the age of Perices and Cicero with our own.
The cruelty, the gluttOny, and the slavery OF the
Romans tho NflitlcrS vices OF NOCTdltHtiic istV
uine.tenihs Of the heroes of Marathon, were slaves
unclaimed from Ahenan doerposts, TO be sent against
the enemy; the unnatural cruelty of the Spartan
Mothers who gave their weakest, sickliest child 10
feed the hungry wolves Of Taygetus; all these made
our society glorious and pure, in comparison. Mr
Rurbngane compared the present condition OF England
with her condition 200 years ago, and he drew great
comfort from the present state of the continental
nations. But the greatest example OF progress
was 70 be found in cur own country,
as well in comparing Il with the old word in COM
pairing i,s present condition with It's condition 40 years
ago. The whole country was not then more populous
than the Empire State to-day. We had no ships on
the sea. from Maine 10 Georgia the wolf roar was
echoed from the Aleehan 10 the Atlantic. Now on
tie sides OF the laughing hills dwell twenty-five mil
lions Of happy people, doubling themselves IN every
tw euty-fve years, and the boy wh) lived for atty
wears from to-day would see one hundred millions of
people under The starry banner of America. Com
merce bad increased more than tongue could tell and
ell the marks Of civiliZ becoming more and
more developed. Mr.. Burhneame in beautiful han
guage illustrated the recent discoveries of science.
lie cosed by saying that be had eadeayored 70 prove
thai the present better than the past He would
40, dsparage the Of the past they did their duty
it was for "a 70 10 our duty IL the present Ere
oueutly throughout the discourse Mr.. Burlingane Wa
in,errup,ed With applause.