The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-09-15

mans can we'll feel proud Of fellow German
whose name has been sounded to-day IN MIL
lions of human ears. Yes the beams or BIS
sun are illuminating our foreheads, and as we
view ourselves in the great mirror OF the age
there is reflected upon us something OF that
halo which glorifies the name Of Humboldt
and through him the German people.
I greet you, then, my fellow-countrymen,
with that Joy which BELTS this occasion, and
bid you God speed in the use OF that intelli-
gence, energy and patient industry which you
have exhibited in all the pursuits OF life, and
which should ever illustrate the character OF
the countrymen OF Won Humboldt.
greet you, dear German women-you whose
domestic virtues adorn the circle OF home
you whose faith, purity aud excellence cement
the bonds OF society-you whose devotion TO
the fatherland is only one Of the msnlfesta-
tions Of that love which you bear to the good,
the true and the beautiful everywhere.
May God, in His mercy, watch over and pro-
tect your career. and bless and comfort you IN
all the relations OF life.
1t is but justice to General Wagener to add
that the above is a meagre translation aud
synopsis, and conveys but an imperfect idea Of
the address as spoken in the original German.
Part II was opened with handsomely
rendered chorus thee, Sing, beloved
German Fatherland," after which Professor
McCrady delivered the following address,:
Address Of Professor McCrady.
In the distribution of the duties Of this me-
mortal evening, it has fallen to my lot to trace,
however imperfectly, the position occupied by
the intellect and labors OF Alexander Won Hum
holdt in the history Of physical science. Con-
scious as l ON that to execute such task
with skill proportlonate TO the magnitude OF
the subject, is something quite beyond the
share OF critical acumen aud research to which
may lay claim, shall nevertheless endeavor
faithfully to delineate the impression made
upon me By the scientific career of the great
author of Cosmos, 10 the Conviction that where
there is opportunity to render homage to the
memory OF those vino mark epochs in the ad-
vancen:ent OF human knowledge, it is the duty
of every one to contribute what he may to-
wards:n rightful use of such opportunity.
feel particular satisfaction IN being thus
limited To the consideration of Humbo oldt's
scientific achievements, as may thereby avoid
the barren diverse of his lIfe wherein, sur.
rounded by the folbes of humanity and over
shadowed by defiant pride Of intellect, lies
the defaced symbol of that religion to whose
influence modern science owes nearly oil It's
peculiar characteristics, and without which
HumbQldt's achievements themselves would
have been impossible.
1t is one OF the teachings Of that religion to give
part of his fatherand and from those distantre-
glons into which the German race has pushed
It's vigorous offshoots, as we'll as from the lov-
ers of scientific advancement through hout Chris.
tendon, there arises at this voluntary festival
hearty recognition OF one OF the mos, extra
ordinary intellectual reputa lions 1t has ever
been given to man to acquire-a reputation 80
great that the boldest who may differ from hum
would hardly venture to attack the sc .entlhc
opinions and judgments OF Alexander Won
Humboldt with levIty, or with other than the
reverence which We instinctiveiy feel IN the
presence OF the highest order OF Genius.
When we ask ourselves, however. what spa
cial achievement in science it IS that has LEFT,
in the case OF Humboldt, 80 deep au impress
sion upon the mind OF the race, satisfactory
answer to our question is by no means 80 OBJ
vious as we might naturally have expected.
1t is easy to Ok upon the source OF Newton's
fame, in the fact that he was the discoverer OF
law which science has since accepted as uni
yersa, and was, moreover, the inventor OF Q
wonderful machinery Of analysis by which the
investigation Of that law became possible. Ii
is likewise evident that the worldwide repute
which attaches to the name Of Lnu@ls Is dee
rived from his being the first to perceive the
scientific importance Of the coordination OF
groups in Nature, and the first to devise the
means Of rejecting the system OF Nature in
scientific thought and scientific language.
Nor is it difficult to trace the celebrity OF the
great Cuvier 10 his discovery Of the correa-
ton OF animal structures, by which it became
possible to obtain knowledge, more or less
precise, OF extinct forms OF lite. by the careful
study OF few of their less perishab.e parts
preserved in the metropolis Of the geological
ages.
In each Of these instances, and in many
others which could be added to the comparl-
son did time permit, there is some special dis
Ii I,a,,, fn1 in "a w
definite words which has opened long ave-
nue. OF research to students, nd yielded an
endless harvest to science, more than suthc-
ing to account to US, evel at glance, for the
yeneratlon in which mankind have embalmed
the name of its author.
But when wo seek to lay the finger OF GER
talnty upon that one thing in Humboldt! sci.
entific career, to which as to fountain head
may be traced the mighty stream OF his fame,
it seems liketse vain effort to determine the
source OF the Amazon, or the spring rom
which the Mississippi first sees tho light. IL
is true that he was a great traveller, and
has left his footprints in very remote quarters
of the globe; in the Steppes OF Asia, and the
equatorial forests Of America, on the Peak OF
Teneritfe and in the mines OF Mexico. IL Is
true that everywhere he made even the accl-
dents Of travel the opportunities Of science,
and has left behind him store OF original OBJ
servations OF imperishabie value. 1t 10 true
that he was the fortunate witness OF many
grand exhibitions OF the forces at work IN
Nature, and that he has left such records OF
them as no other man has surpassed, il any
have ever eaualled. It is true that he made
original re searches in physical geography,
meteorology, terrestrial magnetism, chemis-
try, mineraogy, botany and zoology,a and IN
the geographical distribution Of organic llfe.
It is true that history, arch@ )losy and eth
nology did not escape his comprehensive grasp.
In word, it 10 true that he could take rank
among the pro6ci 3uts OF each science in turn,
and that he made number Of valuable con-
trbutlons to several sciences, besides deti-
nItely settling many points OF uncertainty.
Ali this would have entitled him 10 such I'D
miration as we give to men OF well balanced
and varied learning, vivlfed by wholesome
personal acquaintance with In1 sources from
which such knowledge has reeL derived; and
such alone, we may freely acknowledge, would
have been the groundwork ot : much more
than ordinary reputatio,. Yet this eeputatlon
would have had little other ,Oundnuon than
the exhibition OF vast personal power; and
when We should come to inquire what impulse
had been given thereby to the progress or Sci
epce, no honest mind would, for moment,
compare such achievements to those OF Copper
ncus, Kepler, Newton, or to those Of LnnRus,
Jusslen, and Cuvier. II would be even an in
justice to the memory OF Humboldt were we to
institute parallel between his contributions
to physical geography, which constitute nearly
the whole of his contributions to science.
and the discoveries OF the great men just men
toned or with some OF the moro recent revela-
tions OF science, as, for instance, that which ls
known variously as the Correlatioj, the Con-
seryatfon on the Persistence OF forces,a DIS
coyery which has shed lustre upon the names