The New York herald., 1876-11-20

oAm PIE test lest exposure SnOulu oVcItaho
them on the spot If this was not the mo-
tive of the refusal what was it?
American Claims to Culture.
The recent work of French writer who
came to inspect our Centennial Exhibition
and observe our people is exciting q degree
OF attention in the English press quite dis
proportioned to its importance. That blum
dering French book has not salt enough to
Keep it sweet but its author has rendered a
service by supplying the occasion for a dis
cussion from which more can be learned
than from his pages The London daily and
weekly journals have shown q disposition to
do us justice, but some of them have evinced
kind intentions rnther than real knowledge
of this country. We are glad that Professor
Draper took occasion in his admirable lee
ture q few evenings since to speak of one
branch Of American culture and to correct
the misconceptions of our own country,
men as well as foreigners. American
ignorance is, indeed, the chief source
of foreign blunders respecting the United
States. It is natural that travellers should
believe much of what is told them, and
when they hear Americans descant on our
inferiority it is not surprising that they take
them at their word. But, as Professor
Draper aptly suggests, "Many of these
humiliating accusations are made by persons
who, because they are ignorant of what has
been done, think nothing has been DONE
They mistake what is merely a blank in
- &C ~,
reality" Travellers, whose associations are
mainly with this class, get distorted views
of what this country has done and is doing
in literature. science and art.
We wish that some gentleman who is as
competent to speak with authority Of our
literature as Professor Draper is of American
science would come out, like him. and place
our exertions in their true light and that
some other person equally qualified to speak
would render the same service to American
art. It is of comparatively little Importance
what foreigners may think of us, but it is
shame for our own countrymen to be
ignorant of our contributions to human
progress The following extract from Pro-
fessor Draper's lecture summarizes some of
our achievements in those branches Of
knowledge which come within the scope of
his studies -
We have sent out expeditions OF exploration both 10
the Arctic and Antarctic seas. We have submitted
our own coast to photographic and geodesic survey
excelled in exactncss aud extent by any similar
works elsewhere. In the accomplishment OF this
have been compelled to solve many physical problems
OF the greatest decacy and highest importance and
We have done t successfully The measuring rods with
which the three great base lines Of Mano Long Island
Aa~F
cal appliances have exacted the publicly expressed ad
mraton Of OF the greatest European philosophers
and the conduct Of that survey their unstnted ap-
plause. We have Instituted geological surveys OF
many Of States and much OF our Territories and
fits, but also by the higher honor OF extending very
greatly the boundaries OF that noble science Al an
enormous annual cost we have maintained meteor
ological signal system which think Is not equacd,
ana certainly IL not surpassed, In the world Should
It be said that selfish interests have been mixed up
with some Of these Undertakings We may demand
whether thero was any sehshness in the survey OF
the Dead Scar Was there any sefishnc that
mission that czcn OF New York sent to Equatorial
Africa for the finding and relief OF Livingstone,
the astron omica expedition 20 SoSth Amorica
any in that to the Valley OF the Amazons Was
servation OF tho total ecpscs of the sunY 1t by
American astronomers that the true character OF hts
scven expeditions that despatched tor obscrv-
ing tho OF Venusf Was Il not hero that tho
that the eighth satellite OF saturn was discovered here
that tho dusky ring OF that planet wnicn had escaped
the penetrangey OF Hersche and all the great Euro
pean astronomers, was first seenY Was IL not by
American telescope that the companion OF Sirius the
brightest star tho heavens, revealed and tho
mathematical prediction OF tho cause OF his perurba
tions veridedf Was Il not by Yale College professor
that the showers OF shooting stars were hrs scient
caly discussed on the occasion the grand American
display OF that mesorio phenomenon in 1887 Did We
not Join In the nvestigatons respecting terrestrial
magnetism instituted BY European governments at the
suggestion of Humboldt and contribute quota the
results obtancdf Did not tho Congress Of tho United
States vote money grant to carry into effect the in
lishcd flora OF tho United show that something
has been done IN bosanys Have not very important
Investigations been madc here ON the induction OF
magnetism IN iron, the effect OF magnetic
another. the translation OF quality into intensity
and the convcrsef Was II not here that the radntons
OF incandescence were first investigated, the
ton or increasing temperature with increasing
Tranquility shown. the distribution Of light heat and
chemical activity In the solar spectrum ascertaincd
and Of the fundamental facts spectrum anay-
developed long before general attention given
to that subject in Europes Here tho first photograph
Of the moon was taken here the first Of the on
spcctrums was produced here the first portraits OF
human faco we're nade-an experiment that has given
rise TO an important industrial art
We are sorry that we cannot make this ex-
tract longer and include what Professor
Draper has to say of American success in his
own special department of chemistry. But
we trust his excellent discourse may be
printed in large, clear type as o pamphlet
and obtain wide circulation.
Temper Justice with Mercy.
The phrase Jersey Justice has grown
to mean dealing out the severest statu-
tory penalties to all transgressors of the
law, particularly in cases of homicide.
Where. as in New York. there have been so
many failures Of justice in cases dealing with
the taking of life, an admiration not at all
logical for the practice this phrase embodies
is likely to be engendered. The best
experience of the wisest commentators
teaches us to recognize that the graduation