Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1864-11-12

Etr0psan and Amsriean Instituti0ns.
XAGs dinner Of the great Agricultural
Show at Springfield. Massachusetts. Pro.
Hfes.ora Agsssiz drew a parallel between
European aud American institutions, as
follows; ~ .~s0SE ,-zsa F>sa;S ETSE'
/ did not come TO this country as an
emigrsnt seeking for q better home. d. !
am son of the old Republic of Swi,zer-
land (applause,) which has maintained its
independence among mobarchial countries
surrounding it for FIVE hundred and fifty
years. did not come as political refugee
seeking for freer home and for protection
sgsinst ,yraun came here as curious
traveller. desirous Of becoming acquainted
with the natural productions, features, as
pect and geological condition Of the eontin-
eut which is becoming so important par,
Of the civilized world, and here l am, an
American citizen. applause. e s'''s ''.' +.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to
tell you whyiI am an American citizen,
having such autecedents. an in the
habit Of looking into the condition Of things
and Of sualyzing the facts which I witness
and l asked myself one day what. was the
difference between American and European
civilization, and after careful and conscien.
.iious aud sometimes rather trying survey
Of the case, l came to this conclusion, that
the Characteristic feature of European 20
cie,y was that there the institutions werr
all calculated to crush down every effort
which might interfere with the privileges
of the few, while here everything was o.
gan izcd to foster the advancement of every
one. 1'7 Applause. '. e .a. ..s'.' .-ii
The American institutions are such that
they will allow every man to become q man
who possesses the elements Of true man
hood, and upon that result Of my con.id
era,ionI said to myself, having child en-,
here should be, my home and their home
Renewed applause 1 could not bui
enjoy those privileges OF the bouudless re
sources OF The conntry which established
its social organization upon such principles.
Gentlemen. Europeans have not aways
looked upon America with that kind Of i'm
Partially with which think / looked up
on it, aud yet there was time when a
more kindly feeling prevailed among Eu-
ropeans toward America than now. There
Is one man whose name is familiar and
pleasant to hear to Americsps-I men De
Tocqnevi'le. Thers Is no one who has re.
presented American institutions !, perh ps
10 better light than he. He 10 consider
ed lbe expopsnt, 10 Europe of American in
sutut".s and Americsn social condition.
ani yet what is is that be says as the sum
mary OF bis observations That America
was The paradise of msdiocrity, aud thst Is
the verdict Of the man who is considered as
haviog taken the fairest and most candid
view Of the American condition. What
does tha. mean II means in the frsl
place, that any ono has fair chance, and,
/ believe. that If be had gone little deep
er iu bis analysis OF these INSTITUTIONS, in.
stead Of coming to this conclusion be would
have found what is my eonvictiOn---tba,
upon the social organization OF America
there is o possibility Of raising a super
structure Of genius and Of art and OF i'm
prosemenl in every difeeticn COMMENSURATE
to the broadnsss ofits basis. Applause
see oply one danger, which, as il is my
4 way 10 say what Is sppareht 10 my heart
hermit me 10 say. What is The danger
see 7 II is that csrtaia Institutions, o
which there can only be few, are likely &
be too multiplied, and thai the possbilit,
Of rsising 10 the highest emipencs will b
| retarded by It. When you see the results
Of efforts here, what are they Hoy
many ssch horses as Gen. Knox have com
| upon this grouadf How many such mare
las Phoeahontas . There is oaly one Il
lNew England. Now say you shoul'
have one university, that should be such al
linstilotion Of learning that all the element
Of istelIec,uai power should be conbined I
give the opportunity which joint effort
can give. Until such an effort 10 mad
there will be one thug wanting. and
hope to sec the dag when The three coliegs
Of Massachusetts, shall be werssd into on
| luniversiiy and il shall BE- at the same tim
the seat Of your fstare Agricultural Colleg
| lKpplasssA GMdh F! oMdA