Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1866-05-17

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No e.. u d. asnbss nvsssss. saa
splsodos Of IL discoveries y bsar . 90
psrison with he last hAlt ssssssy in this
country. rGS~stivs potls 4 SIAM end
s'sstrieity, discovered y ~ inuss3ous
eountrymsn, have facilitated taoGDooosse be-
evssa Ststss ~ cations, st1peGthsaing thes
boads thss aOits them, sateadsd he cir
cslation Of s.,.,0ughs sSJsywasss, and. BY the
esw fsstr.sss they havs tetssdsssa istesss
historI ofsivilisstioo, entirely changed The
TO-. Of the world. A visit TO the Potent
Office 1t Washington, one Of the most mag
nidcsnt structures Of modsru times. in
which Thousands speo thousands Of models
~ arranged il the most orderly manner
he shelves Of it vast and illuminated halls,
may convince The curious and skepsical IN :
quirer how much has been accomplished b.
American genius in the way Of useful dis
soveries si6Se the orsAaisation Of tlss Co..
eminent,
What . thrilling romance does the histo.
~ Of each Of thoss inventions open TO the
psrusal Of the reflective mind Intellect,
not searching for Aladdin's lAmp-nOt toll
Ing painfully in the laboratory in pursuit Of
the philosophers stons-nOt scanning the
stars Of the armament in order 70 solve the
problem d man's destiny-not engaged IN
maintaining exploded doctrines, impractic
ablc theories. and sphssnenl systems; but
intellect. toiling bravely in tho deep mines
Of thought, where no footsteps had ever be
fore Travelled; intellect, often panied by
neglect on, one side. and goaded by reproacn
on the other. but occasionally cheered by
the gentle and soothing tones Of affection,
urging it onward intellect, laboring unre,
mittingly, BY night and by day, in sickness
and in health. to discover new truth, to
lift the veil from Natures mysteries, and to
reveal to glad and sdmiring world . new
law. or . new application Of an old law to
some object Of the utmost importance to the
well being Of society, and st length making
sne discovery, or demonstrating tho appli
cation-whst triumph is this--a triumph
noisclcss - tho march Of ages, and a. en-
duringi
Such are the trophies Of American genius,
which invitp the attention and scrutiny Of
The visitor. mot for days, but for weeks; nay,
Tor inc .nths, in the Patent Office at Wash
'ng'.on. We are not ashamed Of that cdlfice,
and, without apprehending charge Of in
dulgirg Al ovcrwesning vanity which nigh,
detract from our responsibility, We may
point with conscious, and VIC think, not un.
becoming pride, to what that edificc COM
sains, as . conclusive argument and evils
dsnce Of what tho United States have &C
complished in the departments Of art and
science.
Our writers and orators arc often tainted
by British travellers and the British press
with the boastful spirit in which they in
dolgc, and tho exaggeratedy enthusiastic
terms in viii h they speak Of their country,
and Of nearly everything that sppertains tc
her. Until in England. 1t least, we have &C,
quired the unenviable reputation of being
nation Of brsggartA We confess there il
but too much reason for tho charges which
ore lcveled against us in this particular. I
We have civil liberty, good government, wei
and faithfully administered, free press. and
tho blessings Of education generally diffus-
ed; and beyond these essentials OF natona
greatness, If we have scenery unrivaled fo1
its beauty, variety and magnificencc, it i.
well that We ourselves should understand
these things, in order that We may fulfil
the destiny allotted to us by Providence, il
moral, social, political and literary poi
OF view. But 1t savors Of ridiculous prcten
sion, challenges unfavorable criticism, an,
provokes the contempt Of foreigners, whel
We seize on every occasion Justly or unjust
~, to trumpet our own praises. 1t is dis
gusting habit, and as unnecessary as It i
uDbecoming.