The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-12-29

Address OF Miner n. Kellogg, Esq,
before the American Union Acad-
envy ON the Diffusion of Kuowi.
,dye In the Arts of Design

edge IN the AFts d DfSrku'
The following interesting paper was read
by Miner X. Kellogg, Of this city, before tho
American Union Academy OF Literature,
Science and Art, at their stated meeting on
Monday evening last. As II contains sug-
gestlons worthy Of consideration, and Is In
tended to encourage the founding OF an insti-
tuition for the diffusion Of knowledge In the
arts Of design, we commend II to the careful
attention Of those interested In art matters
In Washington;
Mr.. President and Members OF the Amori-
can Union Academy! The paper which pro
pose TO read this evening Is attended 70 sug,
gCst for the consideration of the members OF
the Department Of the Fine Arts, the pro.
ptiety OF applying to the Government OF the
United States for aid IN founding an institu'
tlon for the diffusion OF knowledge In the Arts
think tho time has come when this Gov.
ernment should afford facilities for eul,lvst:
human life. Our countrymcn have already
attained that degree OF excellence In such
knowledge as secures their material welfare,
and 1t Is therefore assumed that they are now
prepared to receive and enjoy those intellect
ual treasures which the hbersl and beautiful
arts have reserved for them, But 10 order 70
sustain this state ment, will revert briefly to
what they hsye already accomplished, and
under most adverse cireumstaneesi so that
their present intellectual COhultlOn hnu Whnth
may be more clearly appreciated.
Less than century ago we were the dc.
pendent coloniSts Of aGOyernment separated
from US by three thousand miles OF water, and
we were quite as distant from any other civil
lied nation. Surrounded by savaEes and de-
barred from frequent intercourse with all
those sources Of knowledge which ages Of
intellectual toll had accumulated, the Ameri.
can colonists, In the conviction that their
Inherited liberties were imperiled BY contiu.
ued allegiance to the mother country, entered
- An At m As.ht fttI md n.
ous-that OF forming government over which
they alone should be Its sovereign. We all
know the success Of that experiment. II as
founded the world by the energy, the forti.
tude, the invinelbie courage aud the moral
and mental strength which marked that In
mortal epoch whoP republic va. ar;; crested
From beginning so auspieious and glorious
we have literally ploughed our way through
rugged and dangerous fields, defyinE and over.
coming every obstacle In our course, until at
last the plOughshare and the Iron horse have
opened track across the entire Continents
track that will rapidly widen until II affords
snbststenee and peaceful homes to untold mil
lions OF the human race.
From the unparalleled enterprise and lingo
nuity which free republican system has de.
veloped In Its eitiEeus In the hrst century Of
its existence, which In other nations IL re.
sarded as merely the period of infancy, 1t has
been raised to the rank Of the most powerful
among them. Clyl and Intellectual liberty,
governed BY Just laws, has left the mind free
In It's pursuit of knowledge. The necessities
Of NE thus far have dictated tho kind Of know.
ledge most useful to our condition. These ne
cessities. with the simple help Of a common
school education, have developed In a remark.
sble degree the Inventive faculties Of our race.
The result Is soon in tho variety and excellence
OF every species Of mechanism, especially In
those wonderful Inventions Of the telegraph,
the se~ina nsssas ens c, re s.snn Si9ass
tions OF the prolific American mind, whfch are
Of Infinite value to science and to human hap
plness.
This free system has begotten that manly
confidence which keeps pace with facility OF
resource In the various bold enterprises con-
ceiyed by the ambitious spirit Of the citizen
aspifit which has taken him to the South Sea
Ahd through the fearful deserts of Arabia In
fact through every degree of latitude quite
up 10 the ice-bound pole OF the north In search
OF knowledge hitherto hidden from mankind,
The successful result OF such intel ligent ex.
plorations presents an array Of achievements
in the helds OF Archaeological and geography.
cal discovery which confer disti netion upon
the adventurer and honor upon his native
country.
la polite literature we are no Longer regarded
In the Light OF students dependent upon Eu.
Topean teachefs for guidance in scholastic
paths. for many American names are found
In that honored list Of authors who aid In
governing mahkind by that mighty weapon
which is saitto be oven mightier than the
sword.
Unfortunately, this latter weapon eth re-
mains rs an Instrument Of self protection, and
tOfcmOye the barbarianism from the adv AncIng
ssHSs 81 Siy' !, b SI. our warriors whY
proves, and patriotism as entitle them to a
renOwn as imperishablc as that with which
mythology has Invested its gods. Their ex.
ploits have Instructed the soldier In the
science Of war, and still further illustrate the
great and rapid progress which every kind Of
Intelligence has made, under our republican
system, In the brief period OF a single century.
This retrospect OF our history, brief As II 10,
indicates the advanced conditions of mental
aud material THINGS and that enough OF these
has been secured 10 enable US to venture upon
yet higher degrees OF civilization, and demand
the means OF nOurishment for the nobler and
IneHpfessible Instincts OF the soul.
From this more elevated plane We shall per-
ccive extensive fields spread out before US,
Ttch ARd inviting, which. II properly titled,
tastes, and dllruse the sweet fragrance
which things Of beauty alone can give forth.
Tho,c iIelds now invite US to take this up.
take H. That we have hitherto hesltAted IL
due more to anxiety resulting from ardent
struggles In political and commercial life than
to an innate Indifference to intellectual 10y,
or pArsimonious spirit in Its qualification.
The time seems now pTopitious for the en-
lorcement OF every Argument which can
awaken the attention of our Government to
the benefits which the liberal arts can bring 10
tho state as well as to its citizens
The domain Of the iine arts 10 the only one
neglected by our Legislators, an yet It 10 the
one, beyond all others, most needing their fos-
tefing care. l may be too sAnguiHc, but 1t Is
my belief that If the subject were brought be.
lore them IN proper way, accompanied by
come feasible plan by which = reasonable out
lay would accomplish so important an object,
that they would cheerfuily lend 8 generous
hand for the encouragement Of the hne arts
among US. They have already given largely
10 science-and to literature many sources Of
lie, proofs Of q liberal disposition to advance
every worthy object Of Intellectual inquiry.
They have erected public buildings Of the
most extensive character, and paiHters and
Bculptors are most generously rewarded for
public taste 10 already demanding objects OF
eradication in the liberal arts. To be sure,
some OF these labors have met with severe
critlcismj but this, whether right or wrong In
Its judgment, only furnishes additional testi-
mOny to the general Interest which art 1, ex-
citing In the public mind. II Ia therefore OF
especial moment at this timo, that the true
principles Of art should be deeply studied, so
that unwiSe legislation may be avoided, and
that this capital should contain nothing but
the most instructive examples in the various
branches Of the hne arts.
Both Legislators and artists should combine
and concentrate their efforts to this end. II
successful there Will hencefOrth be in Wash.
lngton reliable source from which to draw
that knowledge which Is Indispensable to the |
proper construction and adOFRment OF the |
eilices And monuments Of our capital.
Individual patronage may do much to en- |
Outrage an artist by AptGuniHry compensation |
worthy Of compensation they must proceed |
iI"m thorough acQuaintsnoe with the scien.
tlhe Aui FhilOsophic principles upon which all |
Of study under the best Systems Of Instruction
that An artist c1g be qualified 10 execute such
Wpfhh, Auu lhlINlluhl patronage does not |
afford him that Instructions It comes too late;
1t IL the result rather thsn the cause Of ex.
crllcure IN the artist and however great the
sIm- that Individuals have expended for his
works they have not yet created for hi IN one |
single institution throughout agTeat nation OF |
forty millions Of Inhabitants wherein he eau |
obtain thorough knowledge Of his pro.
icss."n. II has ,eit him to seek In foreign
lands IN : essential knowledge, upon which |
durable fame must rest But the facilities
MbIEh Europe offers can be accepted by a very
limited number, and when accepted II IL
olt1Hics the cause OF such pecuulary distress In
lhe mlAst OF strangers AS to sIUken the heart
ana even destroy the lie of tho most deter.
mined ana healthy student II Is a pertlnent
and important question to Rsk what other
pfpfeEeIOn requires Huch lhhpr and sacrifice
rom It's fOlloweTsi" The answer Is not one,
all others are provided al home with the means
OF AdyahccmCut and the pursuit OF n useful |
hul honorable career. The contemplation of !
lhls lt2t not only AstOnlshes US, but II Is at. |
Tended wl'h certain sadness In the hearts OF
al! sincere lovers OF the arts
NolAlHg but the spirit Of pAllpsuphy can
give - The courage Of hope Tor the future
anu ms alone II 10 when gives life to tho !
belief Nat the progressive Intelligence OF this
age Will soon exert ltE power Ia fostering land
adequately fcwsfilng the Mg-, eAATnlng 3
lnOst Instructive aud most enduring l4byFs Of
The hohlost CIVILIZATION that II VII not much
longer delay 10 crown It's DEcntfu, hIatgry
with the immortal ll tlpgl "a FrfI,ta ?