Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-06-08
GFor the Chronicle.1
HISTORICAL READINGS, NO. s.

HISTORICAL READINGS, NO. s.
Before we bring this series of ''Readings'
to Close we desire to take brief review of
the ground over which we have come. We
have taken retrospect of the past--con-
templated the most ancient and important
civilized nations which have existed before
them with each other, and, to
a certain extent compared them with our
selves. We have also specified what we con-
slider the chief cause of that superiority which
we claim. Nations, venerable for age, re-
nowned for wisdom, eminent for intellectual
and aesthetic culture, powerful through po-
litical and military skill, have appeared be-
fore us, grown corrupt disappeared but
during all this change-and coincident even
apparent decay-the great stream Of civiliza-
tion has flown on, growing broader and pu-
rer as the ages rolled past.
Our superiority we have ascribed to the
following causes, and on the same We would
found all our hopes of future permanency
and progress: sEss ta.H a. ty
First and chiefly, the influence Of prer
and more hmanizing religion. Christianity
has purifying and elevating power un.
known to the religions of Antiquity. An
other cause of our superiority we found in a
better method Of philosophismg. The induct-
i've method Of philosyphy--which has done
SO much for modern science-being almost
totally neglected by the Ancients. There
were some exceptions which we mentioped.
Where these exceptions were, there was
most success. The possession of better nstru-
ments for the prosecution of philosophical and
scientific discoveries-such as a new and
simple language in pure mathematics, and
new organs of perception for physical inyes-
LEGATIONS, is another great advantage Of ours
which we pointed out. Finally, we referred
to the press, that discovery of modern days
the potent and unparalleled assistant Of sci
euce, the instrument of security of advanc-
ing knowledge. These we mentioned at
length, but these are not all. They are
the chief not the only advantage We pos
sess over the cultivated nations of Atiquity
Others might have been mentioned, such as
the happy geographical position Of most Of
the modern civilized nations the effects
of some of the causes already specified
the secondary though still powerful cause:
which have given the desire, the possibility
and the means Of frequent intercourse with
each other-affording all the advantages oi
communion while securing the advantage:
of emulation,-our increased skill in the use
of our instruments, but these and others W.
must leave untouched.
While we thus claim a superiority ovel
the Ancients, we would not appear to de
spise them. They were our precursors an,
benefactors. Their labors have enriched us
We would gratefully acknowledge our in
debtedness. The observations of the Chal
dean shepherds-those silent watchers of th'
nocturnal sky-the wisdom treasured u
by the priests of Memphis and Thebes-th
lab~rs of Aristotle, Archimedes, Hipparchu
and Ptolemy, viii be ever priced by the tru
lover of learning. DEVOTED and high-soule
sons of science-toiling SO nobly under sue
disadvantages, we would accord you naugh
but admiration and gratitude. The brigh
effulgence of later days cannot dim the lus
tire of your glory-nor our lofty advance
ment make US forget your names!
1t would be almost foolish to ask, "hav
we reached the eliminating point of our pre-
gress" The retrospect we have taken, an
a knowledge of the position we now holt
can only inspire us with the most generou
anticipations and afford joyful presage {
the future. True science must advance, an
in her progress ever will be shedding ne'
and more glorious light on the pathway {
man, discovering beauty and order and SIG
uifcance in many things now seeming i
regular and perplexing.
There is indeed much, in this mighty un
verse, to be learned, and much which mo
tai man may never know. Our hopes {
success, though, are sure and cheering. tt
human spirit, energetic and ardent, will,
success only be melted to more hazardol
and lofty achievements. What it has dor
is but presage of what it yet shall do,
sea and sky, in the dark interior Of the cart
and in traversing the mighty heavens whic
shine around, but to us ever above, and su
we are that it will say after its most searcl
ing Investigations, in the depths Of the cart
"his way Is in the deep and his path In u
great waters" or if leaving our world,
traverse the profoundest abysses Of space
in the same principles Of planetary motto
and the same laws of radiating light al
> the same indications Of benevolent desil
(which insure harmony and beauty to o
world 1t will read an illuminated CONNIE
tary on the perfection of God, and col
back 10 its own humble but secure hon
rejoicing at the goodness exalted by
y grandeur, and enlightened by the wisdS
this vast universe everywhere displays.
: Our achievements, then, are but part
what free humanity must attain in the
vancement Of mental activity, scientific c
tivatlon, and moral improvement. Never
fore was there such zeal and never bef