The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-08

l. WAAeo' AAWoxUUA0 O00tAm00ts
Geographical discovery has been advancing
Of late Geographical societies have sprung up
| in all parts of the world, and We hear of ex-
ploring expeditions everywhere. The subject
of geography has indeed come to Re one Of
great public interest," and perhaps it may be
for one particular and plain reason, that as
Malte- Brun has well expressed it Geography
is living picture of the universe, and is there
fore essentially popular" It embraces every
thing which concerns the interests and well
being of mankind, It concerns all the sci
ences People have only latterly come to look
upon geography in its proper light, and to re-
alize how newspaper correspondent or q
national ship of war may upset old and long
established notions or create new ones. STAN
Icy When after i1vi;2gstone, opened fresh ideas
with respect to Africa t6s Challenger has
revolutionized our ideas of the Antarctic re-
gions. The world begins to realize that Cen
trail Africa is not mere malarial Jungle, but
possesses the elemsn of riches and is des-
tined ultimately to become seat of civiliza-
ton, empire and wealth. No such destiny
Of science have become interested in that quar-
ter of the earth There is no higher exhibition
Of the progress which civilization has made than
that men now seek their pleasure on tho sea.
The ocean is no longer the impossible river Of
the ancients, nor the 'pirates' field of the old
Mortimer. but Is a part of the world where
every one may be at home and at peace, if SO
inclined. Witness our various yacht squad
rons, vying with each other in honorable
rivalry upon course where the highest skin
and the Hottest bravery are called in requisi-
ton. Yet all Is peace and "the world Of
waters is every mans own.
1t matters not, perhaps. to the present ma
terial interests Of the world whether there is
or is not an Antarctic continent. All school
boys have been taught there was, but we are
all at present in an inquisitive state Of mind.
We want to know. Quick transits by steam
and telegraphic wires across the oceans have
very much reduced the dimensions Of this
world Of ours in the imagination It seems
to us pitiable that we cannot run hither and
thither at will; no matter whether it be to the
centre of Africa, the centre of Asia, to the
North or South Pole. Hence, when the
HERALD published, some days ago, an account
Of the British ship Challenger having sailed
over q goodly portion Of Wilkes Antarctic
continent, there was much wondering. The
truth is, we have all become so used to hav-
ing the ideas of our school days disturbed
that we are no longer shocked with the up
setting of anything, but, on the contrary, are
inspired with new expectations. Great ex-
pectations they are, generally and the South
Pole is no exception to the rule. We had
settled ourselves down into q quiet belief that
the South Pole was in the middle of a vast
continent-as large as the whole of North
America-and until the HERALD published the
letter Of Lieutenant Hynes, of the Challenger,
nobody cared to question the matter But
now a general curiosity is aroused, and curl
osity is the guiding star Of progress.
Some would defend the declarations of
Wilkes, some would find out more than he
and Ross, and d Urville and Biscoe, and Bel
linghausen and Cook and Kempt had found
before, and say to q certainty where the
South Pole really is. There are plenty of
men ready to do such work. and the world is
not only ready to have it done, but wants it
done. It is no longer question, 'What
good" but 1--WE want to know" and know we
will some Of these days. A better oppor-
tunity than the present for the display Of
some of the rather misplaced energies Of the
United States Navy could not be found than
the fitting out of . suitable expedition for
Antarctic discovery. Suitable, we say for no
ship has ever yet been sent into the Antarctic
waters to combat the great ice barrier which
Cook was the first to find, sheathed with iron
and strengthened as have been the ships Of
Parry, Franklin, Kane and others who have
fearlessly pushed through the heavy ice Of the
Arctics.
We give to-day general RESUME of Antarctic
exploration, with special reference to the con-
troversy which has sprung up relative to the
existence of Wilkes continent, together with
an excellent and carefully prepared map
showing good part of the Antarctic regions.
The candid reader can have very little doubt
that Wilkes did actually discover land,
but whether to the extent claimed remains
to be seen. We scarcely need remind our
readers that as we have always been, we are
now and always will be the advocates of enter
prise and discovery, and therefore say, let us
have an expedition forthwith to the South
Pole It Was the Secretary of the Navy who
was almost solely instrumental in setting ON
foot the expedition of Captain Wilkes. Will
not Secretary Robson bestir himself ikewase?
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MAoMAHoN is at least man Of pluck Six
days ago the De Broglie Ministry resigned,
and ever since he has been expecting the for
nation of new Cabinet. But tine Cabinet
makers were bunglers, who could not get eight
statesmen who would pull togetner in harness.
Each had his own axe to grind and his own
nat tha0rv IF runninO tha Uf,varnment Mac.