Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-02-11
To Our Readers.

To Our Readers.
Perhaps some apology should De ten
dersd our readers, for occupying the
space Of provincial paper with matters
other than local and contemporary in
terest. Arguments and opinions of
general principles, designed to affect the
judgments Of men in every quarter, Of
various stations, and for all time, usual
ly seek metropolitan mediums. Bat we
should not be apt to suit metropolitan
taste, which glories in piliDg a larger or
smaller mountain of dirt on a modi-
cum Of gold, and searching is out again.
Our method is to drop on the pure metal
as quickly as possible and endeavor to
put il in circulation unadulteraied.
There is no danger that any really val
liable mental currency can ever DO lost,
when once entered into It's system Of
brokerage snd exchange 1t is the duty
Of each individual to add something to
the resources of the community ia which
be resides; and a. this is tho only spe-
cies Of production in which we are en-
gagged, the produce Of our labor should
enter the home market FIRST Adam
Smith, probably, never produced or sold
a pound Of anything but words; but they
enuneiated truths from which the indus
tries Of the World will never cease to
reap an ever increasing harvest. That
educational, as well as political, social,
and scientific errors have been trans
mitted TO us from antiquity is not at all
unreasonable to suppose, aud we think
we point one out below, which has dis
gusted many and induced them to avoid
true investigation, thoughtand learning
We merely indicate, aud do not pretend
to prove, or elaborate a truth at this
time Suggested BY recent reading
Of writer's on
STUDY or METAPHYSICS AND LoGie.
II seems TO US most Of the writer's on
metaphysics, logic, and even psychology,
ars eminent as authors much more than,
as they aatter Themselves and are gen
orally regarded, as philosophers The
many volumes published every age on
these subjects, are merely rspetilions
and reviews Of those preceding, With a
few cancellations and inconsequentiai
differences; more Of terms or express
sion than otherwise, arising from Obscure
though ornate language, and sirainiug
after an understanding Of things, in a
philosophical manner so-called, which
are really only understood plainly, truly
and most justly by common sense
ANY man OF ordinary understand
ing, is quite ~ capable OF com
prehensiou and expression Of all
Of value, that any one can who has had
the full benefit Of al elaborate acquaiui.
ance with every school hitherto. Con
sciousness, redex-eopsciousness, cogni-
tons, e0nntions, exertious, feelings, will,
intentions, latent ideas, and the inuu-
merable yerbiage Of the schools, have
been harped upon long enough for
naught Most Of these disquisitions are
waste Of lax aud labor and acuteness
which might he infinitely more profit.
ably employed; while to students the
in6nitesimal distinctions and hair.splt-
/ ting explanations are merely perplexing,
Of little use Of any kind, and keep them
in their best years from pursuing true
/ knowledge aud investigation. The con.
slant exercise is the only advantage, for
which the pursuit Of really profitable
studies would be equally eiiiea-
eious. The course at present
followed is also iuimical to individual,
or as il may be expressed, original
thought Constant study Of old methods
of thinking is not the best way of think
ing ones self Whatsoever is seally of
service Of old systems. or worth any
thing as euriosities OF scientific litera-
ture, can be put into q very small com.
pass There is too much nowadays
that ought to be known, too many direc-
tions for the mind to follow, with the
certainty and prospect Of ssFvieeable re-
suits tor so useless au expenditure oi
study aud attention to mere methods
or to the hows and why's the mind oper'
ates
Il requires but little space, small pow
ers Of Comprehension, and less time tC
acquire a perfect understanding o
: Newton's great theories and dis
. coveries, however much trouble
and space il needed to render them a
first accepted; now, il would be non
! sense to 80 through the whole process
to get a knowledge of them So i
ought to be, SO it is, and 30 it viii be
/ whenever definite and true results ar
arrived at, whether it regards materis
or mental science A study OF every
? body's far-fetched hypothesis, in all pes
: sible obscure ramihcations, who choo5 e
, to publish them from motives OF PET
! sonal notoriety, is encouraging wha
ought to be discouraged, aud delri
i mental to true knowledge and advance
# ment in every direction.
Il These are heterodox sentiments, an
classic, unscholarly, and opposed to tn
sanse and practice OF the schools, an
: of every antique school, We are are We
s aware But We appeal to every edu
II Gated man, not welded to aged nC
= tions, and ask them If the fes
of irreyerenoe 10 ancient names, as We
'e as to eminent modern authors will &
le low them TO answer as they think an
1T feel--if we are not uttering the solsm
n trush. Unless one studies the innumert
/, BILE authors of as countless schools c
:" those subjects as antiquarians, OF fro
r. ambitious motives, what benefit does
derive which may not be enclosed in
=. very small volume. Il may be receive
as an axiom that whatever cannot
es turned to the general advantage
'e' positively useless and, therefore. injul
lis Gus as occupying tine and talents h
en- might be bsne6cially directed Tho
= preientious philosophers-ws refer
names prominent of our day and
De mast ages--6eiight to enYelope the