New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-10
AMERICAN CIVILIZATION
A LECTURE BY Il. W. EMERSON.

AZ audience, appreciative, but limited as to mum.
ber, enjoyed on Friday evening, the upcomnon
pleasure Of listening for short hour 10 lec&ufe by
Sir. Emereon, in New Chapel Brooklyn
Mr. Emerson spoke generally of the various de-,
grees of progress, which is called Civilization, :
from the eaters Of pounded snakes to the foremost
races of mankind, showing how thees degrees were
marked in points Of religion, the sense Of honor the
social potion of women, taste, the useful and tie
fns arts; and how, in the condition Of barbarism,
here was tie ahsence Of abstract thought, the srs
Of peace, and pure morality.
High among the primary civillzng agencies he
placed the sea. The power which the sea re-
quires OF the sailor makes man OF him very soon.
fhe log-hu, too giving exercise for certain rude
ssill. and creating new sense OF comfort by the
protection il Affords IL q ciyilizer; and in many such
i'm the Western frontier might he found the piano
and the Lain grammar: the future men Of the
country preparing to compete ere long III the race
Tor iaue ard honor.
TIE Indian footpath widenedto good road agfi-
culture in room OF lasturage; the PO-t-Othce; the
division Of labor, that the workman might live by
hi, .ren.th and not By his weakness Wer paciica-
rof, and agencies or trts OF civilization, each in
It's way.
Ia connection with the qnesion Of labor, he cited
Johufou opinion, who held toe belief that men
arc seldom 90 honestly employed as when makng
lnOuew Aud a. fiNlpSb'l 10 ftttIt
y,lci + essential 10 high order OF civilization he
reverted 10 the courtesy shown to woman, that, II
asked for simple 5ei iIiOn OF the term isiiuhon,
he Should aEswer, " the influence OF good women
liz further spoke or such results traits Of civ
ilnaiOu as were seen In tie telegraph, de pref,
Modern shipbailding-the steamship, /" the pulses OF
whese iron heart 20 bounding through the Storm"
f the complex Organization which MARKS civilized
existence; II climate, which, "ith partial excep-
lions in Egypt, Arabia and India, shows the great
- kx. sltytf. -. 20 Itr. Ia.,
made within The temperate regions Of the earth
One condition WAS ever found indispens able
morali,y--not always called by that name but some
tines by tho name of honor, patriotism, religious
filth. The principle essentialiy, was that Of the
German philosopher whose maxim was, A" Act al
WAYS ~ that the immediate mouye Of thy wi may
! be q universal rule for all Intelligent bei3ga."
Referring TO the aid man received from the natural
lws in hs progress toward civilization, the lecturer
spoko a how tie woodchopper was aided by the
! laws Of gravu;ion; OF the mill-pOwer got 10y the
waterfalls; Of the electric currents ready TO travel
! NJ whatever direction the human VIII suggested;
ana OF the aid the astronomer received from too
silent o,iOn If the plOle on which lie stands. 80
TINT the wisdom of man had taught him 'tc bitch
his wagon 70 "a star, aud make tue gods themselves
de- b., thorss."
Sir. Emerson next spoke Of tie evil agencies
which were made 10 minister TO good ends. AZ tbs
crisi. in the countrys history national tax on
Whisky would DO good "Tobacco aud opium have
broad backs. and may be made to carry afmies-it
you only VA ke them pay for the JOY they eiye, and
e haria th,y 30.
lrlm this point Mr.. Emerson naturally MADE the
uoint aud ilh Of bis observations turn 10 the war,
5udt primary cadfe thereof. Tasing the ground
,f Li or is necessary TO civilization he spoke OF its
Gipiiy, chamc,erizing as noble the prncely motto,
"lr' oi,n'-li CerveD.
"Gcd." said sir Emerson, is God because he
L. tie servant Of all" What, then, is Sl,yey-that
ins,tGiou Itch -hould b. more Justly termed dee
ltuiian, =" which has mnte labor disgrace GAN
honest men are daily toilingi" and there IA stlnu-
.u. Ia te opening tho gieat political econoniist
book, which mates palllable what Is aiterHard
DIS. when he says "ail wealth Is derived from
ibor.'
Tne lecturer subsequently enlarged on tie quos-
ZION of emancipation; his iHiih that ereHts were
marching faster than the p0hiciausi and on his BE-
lief thst tie 'mour famous nonsense insulting The
dlyl ght" would re swept swuY. lie SAID, :" AWen-
CT at rhi- hour but another word Tor oPp7tHYty'
AID he dwelt with emphasis the important Lessons
this war had alt ady given oar PEOPLE.
- The spread eagle Is learning 20 fold his foolish
wings and be Less like peacock tie Top IN tue
street IL Tess ofnsive; the public writer less hord;
the wiz les iantssical; th-re ARE everywhere signs
II returning prudence and economy, and there being
lsss dvspepeia the general health IL improved
In toe future of the country Mr. Emerson ayowet
hs iaith and closed his lecture with the abIupnese
which murkod ito separate paris.