The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-09-15

then and now renowned for classic learning
and celebrities In science.
Well may you, my fellow-citlxens, cole.
bratc the centenary OF your great country
Frankfort, he was devoted TO his favorite
study, natural science, In which he AFTER
wards amazed the world BY his accurate,
full and exhausting researches and astonish-
ing deductions, and gave prestige then OF
his future eminence. Having left Frank
fort he went to Goettlngen, where he
formed the acquaintance OF those celebrated
scholars, Blumenbach, Heyne, and others Of
like eminence, and also Of Forster, who had
accompanied Captain Cook In his voyage to
the South seas.
He early commenced the work Of an au.
thor, and earned a reputation for close oh.
servatlon, clear analysis, and deep research,
even before he engaged In his extensive
tours. Rest did not accord with his active
genius his ardent and courageous soul
thirstcd for travels, explorations Of new re-
gions and distant voyages. In his own Ian.
guage, expressive OF the deep emotions Of
his mind, he says; 81 had from my earliest
youth felt q burning desire to travel In dis.
tant lands uneIplorcd by Europeans"
He felt that he had mission TO perform,
and never was there more willing disposi-
tlon TO engage In the enterprise and no fan
cied difficulties could repress the vehement
ardor OF his soul, for II Is q popularity Of
true genius and native Intellectual greatness
TO despise obstacles and experience pleasure
rather than anxiety In the toll and danger
that lie In the way OF the pursuit Of worthy
objects.
The frst tours Of this celebrated traveller
were restricted to the Rhine countries aud
Holland and England. Soon after he was
appointed by the Prussian Government to a
position In the mining and smelling depart
mcnt. He held this post three years, aud re-
signed In the year 17g5 10 undertake his IA
vorlte pursuit; but the political commissions
In Europe prevented the Qualification Of his
desire on the continent, and he soon resolved
on an exploration OF the Southern Hemis-
phere, and sailed with his friend, Boupland,
FOR the Spanish dominons In South America.
His eager and daring spirit led him frst to
visit Tenerife, whose lofty peaks he and his
companion assembled, and after making such
observations as met their expectations and
gratiHed their curiosity, they sailed for
South America. Then he commenced that
extraordinary and protracted tour that ro-
suited In those vast Accommodations of facts
and observations In geography, geology, me-
teorology, botany, climatology and zoology,
which established his enduring fame as q
philosophic naturalist, and which have be-
come the richest boon TO the scientific world.
We behold him plunging Into the uuex-
plored and almost boundless regions of the
valleys Of the Oronoco, tho Rio Negro and
the Amazon, penetrating the gloomy depths
OF their dense and unfrequentcd forests,
Drawing a deadly climate aud often encoun.
tering the more deadly reptiles and wild
beasts Of the woods that for ages had shell
tered themselves and roamed unmolested In
the solltudcs. Next he is found visiting the
island Of Cuba; then returning TO the South
American coast, he asccnds the Magdalena
river far towards Its head waters, and com.
mences the almost Incredible tour and ex-
pioratiou OF the Andes, trayerslng those i'm
mensc ranges between Quito and Lima five
times. Not content with having crossed
these mountain ascents, he climbs the Chin
borazo TO q height Of over 1900 feet,
mounting above the regions Of tho clouds
and the most adventurous flight Of the cou.
dor, the native king bird Of that region, and
stood calm and meditative where the most
daring Of the human race had never ven
tured to place his foot.
Having satisfactorily explored South
America, and collected facts and recorded
observations In all the branches Of natural
| science, he passed into Mexico, and visited
and resided for season at the capital of her
once magnificent monarchs, then made q
tour to the United States, noting his observa-
lions on the various objects Of animate aud
inauimate nature, and returning TO Cuba, he
| bhiiCu houi tuhb iblAuu W huTOpoy WIN nll
the vast treasures Of knowledge which he
collected. Amer having arranged, systeua-
tiled and generallzod his precious acquisi-
tions In those scientific works that have Sc
cured him imperishable fame, hs 10 next econ
exploring the chilly regions OF Siberia; the
shores Of the Caspian sea; penetrating the
frontiers Of the Celestial empire, asA rsSam.
ing again to his native land by Nessp4 and
81. Petersburg. Ii IL sftsr this 1ast topY that
he presented 70 the world The fss1pus Gee
mos" production SWINGING the psoIoupdest
thought and contemplation, and 20 bosel In
Its plan, and yet so natural and uncxcep-
tionable as to excite wonder even In the
learned. In this work he seems 10 have In
fused the full spirit Of his mighty genius, and
compacted the results Of his vast Information
aud patient and accurate reflection.
The whole life Of this great man was en-
ployed In useful activity, and In the uu-
bounded favor Of the great monarchs and
scholars Of Europe, and OF the learned OF
this hemisphere; and as he lived, SO he died
In that favor, at his native city, Berlin, Ia
the 9lst year Of his age-a length Of days
not ordinarily attained by any Of our race.
have attempted only glance at the life
and labors Of this great man. To undertake
to do more on such an occasion would be
arrant presumption. l therefore refrain
from any further effort Of that nature.
But / cannot close this address without
making brief reference, by way Of con-
trast, between the triumphs and achieve
ments Of the votarles Of science and litera-
ture and those Of the military chieftain and
warrior the former, like the dews OF
heaven, refresh the earth and cheer man
kind; the latter desolate II and all 1t with
sorrow and wailing, and lncerate the heart
and rend the tenderest ties OF human nature;
the former elevate, refine, llberalize and
humanize mankindi the latter degrade, en-
slave aud brutallse them; the former settle
and establish society on q arm basis of
prosperity and happiness, and all the heart
with buoyant hopes for the future; the latter
overturn Its foundations, strike down the
barriers Of justice and right, and blight the
hopes and expectations OF men.
The life and labors Of one man like Alex
ander Won Humboldt contribute more to the
welfare Of nations and communities, and to
the great ends Of human happiness, than
all the bloody dramas that have been en-
acted on the countless battle fields Of nations.
In the eye Of reason, tho triumphs Of war
must ever yield to those Of science. Compare
the Spanish chieftain, Francisco Pizarro'.
exploits In Peru, with his marauding bands
Strengthening and exterminatlng the wretched
natives, plundering their possessions, and
subjecting them to abject slavery, with Al
exander Won Humboldt traverslng their ter.
ritory as an observer, examining theiI
mountains, valleys, rivers, mines, animals
birds, trees and flowers, and deducing there
from ideas for new theories In the extension
OF science and for the advancement Of the
knowledge and happiness Of mankind, and
how the conqueror diminishes In the con
trast with the philosopher. Draw tho par
allel In your sober Judgment between tn,
! same great tourist and naturalist, peace
! fnlly treading over the mountains ant
plains Of Mexico, treasurlng up all that h,
can gather from an observation OF natur,
and art that may be useful and instructiv,
to his fellow men, and Fernando Cortes and
his successors invading and butchering
peaceable and noble race Of men, and VIII,
Is SO base or obtuse as 10 withhold his com
mendation from the former
In closing my address 70 you, feel i'm
PEELED to utter, as last remark In referenc,
TO the illustrious deceased, whose centenar,
we celebrate, that his discoveries and labor
and scientific productions, whilst they hay,
advanced the glory Of his native country
and cheered the lovers Of science Throughout
the civilized world, have established hi
fame as nrm as the rock-built mountain
which he delighted to traverse, and as un
changeable as the constituent elements o
the objects which were the subjects Of bill
keen observation and searching analysis anS
systemixation.