New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-12-03

III
than with their naural courses deserves 10 po
more thoroughly appreciated by tho pubic. ,;,cs
But rho law IN question has yet higher bealhgs;s
More and more we ere perceiyng that tho condition OF
humanity and the progress OF civilization are uIIcc
sutents OF the forces by which men are eontroueo.
What VIC term the moral order OF society, imtn9S
strict regularity In the action Of these forces. Modern
sites disclose remarkable consancy IN inc moral
activities manifested in communities " men Crlmes
occur with a forny which admits OF their predlc'
Each period may therefore be said to have IT'S
definite amount Of morality and Justice. it has been
maintained for instance. with good reasoi that "the
degree of liberty people IL capable OF in any given
age fixed quantity. and that any artificial extension
of II in one direction brings about an equivalent ni'
taton in other direction French reVolutiohS
show scarcely any respect Tor lndiyldna IithtS
than the ntsms they suppant and frencn electors
use their freedom to put themselves agan IN slavery.
50 in those communities where state restraint IS feeble
may expect TO find 1t supplemented Dy the b'eiher
restraints OF public opinion. ,,,u,,
But society like the yidual is progressive Although
NJ each stage of growth the forces oithe organ
ISM physiological intellectual. aud pas,iohhi Law
each certain definite amount OF Strength, ye. .,o
rnto are constantly changing. and 1t is IN TINS cnngo
that development essentially consists 80 WIN scce'!
the measured action of its forces gives rise t. hSed
anonnt Of morality and liberty in each age Dut tna.
amount Increases with social evolution Inc shiase
ono in whom certain classes OF feelings ana cU"Ioh'
predominant, aud he becomes ciyiized lu,t IN proP
lion rs these feelings are slowly repiuc'd ny
hcler character Yet the activities which deteininc
human advancement various. Not only must We
regard the physiological forces those which pertain
to nuns nhr zeal ORGANIZATION anu
rsy cbooeical or those resulting from his Intellectual
md emotional constitution. but the Influences OF
the external world. and those OF the social sta'e'
are Likewise to DO considered. Man ana soo
CIV therefore, as viewed by the eye 81 sci
cree present a series OF vast and complex dynam
cal problems which 20 lie stndiel ~ Tho futnfe IN
The ght Of tho great lay by which we have reason u
believe AL forrns and phases OF force aIc governed
further aspect Of the subject remains still 70 be no
tccd Mr. Herbert Spencer has the honor OF rrnwhln,
ills ,ublime inquiry by showing that the law OF the
conservation or gs he prefers IA term II the fcsls
epco Of Force u il the underlying pTnclpe OF MI
ihoi-, 70 olso .bo fundamental truth Of al pC ,0phy
Win mastery analytic fkill lie hrs shown that this
nrpcipc of which the haman mind hes llst become
nly consclon, is itself the profoundcs law Of the hn
man mind the deepest foundation Of consconsnc's
lie has dernoasrated that the law u the Perstencc Of
Force Of which the most piercing hieIlec's OF past
times had hut partial aud unsitislng ghHpses' ana
which the latest scientific research has dsooseu as ~
great principle o nature hsn yet more transSrhIept
character: is in fact prom ruth OF the highest
oIdcr--a truth which Is necessarily ,nN"Ncu "a our
mental organization; which is broader than my posi-
bic induction and % higher validity than any Other
lfrrfh whatever Tiis principle winch IS ~ once lhe
lhlslcs result of scientific investigation hna M. physi
ca nnays. Mr. Spencer has made the basis al MS new
and comprehensive System Of Philosophy. $1,000
TINS the law Characterized by fnradhy as the ifueSt
in physical science vhch faculties permit ns TO
Icciyc has !ir more extended sway; Y might ven
have been proclaimed the highest Law Of qH scionce-
The most fir-relohing principle thet adyetuFns reason
las discovered IA the universe Ib siuleh'us 'vaoh
spans al orders Of cxiIenCe. Not only do"s govern
IN. maven ents Of tie heavenly bodies, bat 10 nfcAdcA
over tho genesis 81 the consultations not Only docs Il
control those rndian foods of power which l Tue eter
nal spaces bathing. warming I.ulElh- aA. F-N4Iuk
our pnn, hat II rules te actions and o. inen
and regulates the march OF terrestrial aniis N"i y
It's dominion limited 10 physical phenomenn u lf'Ials
equally In the world OF mind. controlling Al INC III ''
and mo. ~ thought and cling. Tie etHl' Oh
the rclno,er gllaNics dart ileir radiaohs across %
universe and although the distances are 80 pi2.oliu
that hundred 81 centuries may haze been required 10
traverse then q impulscs If force enter %" eve anu
mprcssiug atomic change upon the nerve give or
parts - the same ys,emsicllar ard noryon. forces
arc correlated Nav more; sensation n~akeHS th"h-iI
and kndlcs emotion. ~ that this woudious ~ hihS
chain b.nds nio living unity Tie realms o. matter n9
mind through acasureless amIlitudes 81 space anu
And II thes. high realities are but finn and htfal
ruurs which science has Obtained IN The dim dawn 81
dscoyerv what must he e gu-ies Oi ne coming "f
IN indeed thew nrc but peblcs' gathered from tie
shores Of Tie great ocean Of truth, what are the mys'
ierios still hidden 10 tie bosom Of the mighty mex
porcd And t"w IN igan,ocndEg al stretch al thought
ihet Unknown Gud ilhntc Cause OF oil 20 when the
hurrr srit,s tnrn- .ye-norc IN solemn ana u!Serous
i Is remains only TO observe that 30 immense step in
the progress OF orr knowledge Of natural agcncies rs
tie following pucos disclose cannot be without effect
upon the intel rtHrl cIltiTe 81 the age To Tie rdief-
cuts Of that s,lulltc and verbal education which re-
fcs words 20 things and ancient TO modern thought;
which ignores c study ~ nature. aud reFtlts the pro-
gross 81 soor,o with Indifference or hostility % matters
litle What yies OF the world eniertlncd 90 nat
changes ;h"s" Fvs nay undergo but there - unGhtE
aud happy a increasing ella - who hold that II j. the
rue dcriny of mnl 20 comprehend tue vast oiuer oi
csrionoe IN Tire uids of Which Il Is placed. and hat
TIE faculties %. man oNncly adapted 10 tis alb
lime fask. who that the Laws OF nature must he nn
dcr-tood before they can be obeyed. and iA"t Only
through hi. uulrrstauding mar rise 60 The ings'
of ~ powcrt, ana bring himself INTO hal harmony
with his conditions. These viii recognize that the dis
coyery Of new principles which cNpand, and elevate
and harmonge oar ~ the uniyerse-whch involve
Ito working Of the mind itself open chHptcr III
philosophy ana touch the very foundations Of kHo"l
edge canno, be without determining influence upoi
the iutare aud Development OF thought. ana th'
spirit AID methods az its acquisition
Besides the Introduction from which hav,
thus literally qnoica DR.. Ioumans has cnrichc,
cal notices Of the respective authors, furnishing
such details Of their lives AS the curious reader il
always anxious To obtain with regard To his intel
llectual bcnefactors. The work thus presents
praseworthy specimen of complete and iathfu
cdiiorship. and its publication at this time vii
doubtless form an epoch in the experience OF many
thinking minds.
~ Att NTlC MONTHLY. DEorsnrr, 1884. T'ckno
s t.r.a..
| 4 posthumous sketch from the papers OF Mr.
Thorcau opens his number Of the Atlantic" Civ
ing picturesque description of q visit "a the Gaps
Cod Light House, which Is prominent beacon oi
the coas, of Massachusetts, and Is usually the frs
seen by those approaching the entrance Of the Bay
from Europe II forms an agreeable medley of fact
and sentiment, grave reflection and humorous com
ment. The next article is an intelligent aud spirit
I'd account of the "Enelish Authors in Florence,
from the pen Of a writer evidently at home in that
beautiful capital, and familiar with its cultivated
and genial circle Of British residents Several oi