New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-10-26
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

Delivered by Prof. j. r. Newman, NJ. ID.
Dean of the Faculty, Before the Med
ical Class of Straihgt University
October 20, 1873.
Gentlemen-It is 40 ordinary purpose thai
calls US together this evening. We do no,
come to debate any of the vexed questions
now agitating our country from one end t(
the other. We do not come to speculate al
to the probable character Of the next Cabi
net. We do not come to celebrate the com
mencement of an old and established insti
tuition. But we do come to inaugurate a
new college, devoted to the interests OF
medicine and surgery, the inauguration Of
which will mark the commencement OF a
new epoch in the history of the healing art
in this city.
The spirit of exclusiveness, restriction
and narrowness of mind which prevailed in
past ages has given way to that tendency
80 expansion and universally which should
be everywhere present. progress and ''re-
form" are the notices of this age, and all
mankind are vieing with each other in
adding new discoveries to the many
already grazing the pages OF modern
history. Human action has become more
free and uncontined, and all the advantages
of the age are open to the poor as well as
to the rich. The multitudes are arising from
the dust and asserting their inalienable
rights, which have heretofore been mono
polized by the privileged few. Even the
most abject portions of society are arOusing
themselves from that state of lethargic de-
graduation they have SO long known, and
begin to realize that they were designed by
nature for better condition.
The means of self culture, OF progress in
knowledge and virtue, of health, comfort
and happiness, are within the reach of
every man, and in all the departments of
life, We tina that the diffusion vi knowledge
has already done much TO improve
the condition Of the human family. In all
the great movements Of the age we see a
tendency to progress, reform and univer-
salty.
Look first at the arts and sciences, what
they were and what they now are. In
former times they were locked up in mac
cessible volumes in few colleges and mon
asteries throughout the Old World. Their
experiments were mysteries, only revealed
to a chosen few. The portals of science
were SO jealousy guarded by such phrase.
ology as made it to the multitude incon-
prehensible. Tue arts and sciences have
now left those dark retreats, and have
become the property OF the millions.
The volumes once SO inaccessible have now
been multiplied and placed IN the hands Of
the masses, and every new discovery has,
through the agency of the press. found lis
way to the freside of all nations, irrespec.
tive OF race or tongue
In order that We may more clearly show
the worlds universal progress, let us notice
O few of the most important discoveries and
improvements Of the past.
The art of printing has not remained sta.
iionary since its discovery. A little over
four hundred years have elapsed since the
first edition of the Holy Scriptures appeared
in printed form, which was at that time
several years in completing, and when fin
ished was IN very crude and irregular
form. The introduction IF the Columbia
press and the fiat pressure machine were
great Improvements in the art Of printing,
but nothing to be compared with Hoes
cylinder press, which is now in general use.
Books have been thrown broadcast 70 peo-
pie in every station of life, and the rapiditv
with which books and newspapers are is |
sued from the prees would seen 70 surpass
our conception. One of the Hoe presses is
used at the office of the London Times, |
which executes no less than 50,000 impress. |
stems in an hour. Here is striking illus ]
tration of the great progress made in one |
single branch Of art. 1t has grown from a |
rude invention to be one of the greatest and |
% ost useful of the arts, and has been one of |
.he most active agents in the Improvement |
ard civilization of the world.
We will next turn our attention TO astrOn- !
my. Pardon me should dwell too long |
llon such an exhaustless subject. which !
.ffords so bright an illustration of progress |
md development When poor old Galileo |
lad dared to upset the accepted and time.
,onored theories of the ancents in declar. |
ng that the earth moved round the sun, he
vas thrown into prison, and, under penalty !
# death, was compelled to retract his bril-
liant teaching; but although he died in
rison under the surveillance of the inquisi-
ion, the eternal laws of nature were not to
70 suspended by the recantation of the |
forced by the tyranny of the
imes. The earth moved grandly on in spite
f both. and scientific truth was then too
Id to be held IN leading strings by ecclesi-
sticism.
Following Calico come Newton's grand
iscoyeries: While reclining beneath the
,ade of an apple tree, the falling of an ap.
le Lead TO the discovery of the law of gravi, |
.tion, the result Of which was TO show the
hole solar system, planets and their satel.
es. To be under the con troll of that uni.
,rsal law. And the imagination, lifted up
: the grandeur and magniticence OF the
,pception, would refuse TO limit the ap-
ication of that law to our planet alone,
zen were there no facts to enable US to ex- I
nd beyond it. By the aid of powerful I
lescopes we have been enabled to explore
a boundless ocean of space, where mighty
,rlds are performing their sublime and
-monic reyolutiOns-voiceiess N tne1r
,yements, silent in their career; they
I'VE onward and onward, Obeying the i'm
table principles whose birth was with
3 creation, and whose existence Is to all
,rnity. uorsoboI =
ded to our universe the planet Uranus, I
We Saturn two more satellites fesol'eI
milky way into countless myriads OF q
"a and unrayeled the mysteries OF the
,ulm. the double and triple stars. early q
the nineteenth century i've planets =