The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-02-11
RANDOM THOUGHTS.

That this is an age of progress no one
of ordinary intelligence will dispute.
Remarkable and important discoveries
are constantly being proclaimed in
every department of science. Men and
women are delving deep into the hith-
erto obscure depths of nature, and like
the toiling miner, are electrifying the
thinking by spreading before their eyes
sparkling grains of golden knowledge.
And though much that these earnest
workers are bringing to the surface and
exhibiting as the genuine may, when
subjected to the crucible of science, prove
but base metal, yet it is to the brave
hearted, Industrious few, who have
from time to time in the history of the
world been prompted by enthusiasm, if
you please, that the world owes its
present advanced position in civiliza-
tion and enlightenment.
The world is made up of individuals
of different tastes and aspirations, diff
ferent grades of talent and susceptible
ties; hence it would seem that each in
dividual has particular part allotted
to him in the worlds work, as well as a
certain niche to fill, so to speak, in or
der that the whole machinery shall not
only move without undue noise or fric-
ton, but that it may be comely and
symmetrical. The great question then
to be settled by each of us is, Where is
my post of duty-where and how can l
do most in pushing forward the car of
Progress, and in promoting human hap
piness and veal?
To the laborious Investigations OF
Dufay and Franklin the world is in
debted for our knowledge of electricity;
to Copernicus, to Galileo, and to New
ton for our knowledge of astronomy,
and to Watt, to Fulton, and to Morse
for the practical application of the dis
coveries of those eminent scientists to
useful purposes.
Thus we see that the pioneers paved
the way for others, that where they left
off their labors, others took them up;
nor has the succession been broken to
the present day. And since we may
now run with pleasure where our prede-
cessors painfully crept, why should not
the world grow wiser with each sue
ceeding generation? And, if by utiliz-
ing the labors of others in the study Of
natural science, thus constantly adding
to the aggregate of knowledge on a
given subject, is it consistent with rea-
son to suppose that we cannot also
make some advancement in ethical
knowledge ? That is to say, had oul
forefathers reached a point in moral
philosophy beyond which we, by profit.
ing by their experience and labors, can
not attain?
True, the world seems slow to profit
by the experience of others in these
matters; 1Ohy is not so plain. Were we
as ready to utilize the wisdom and ex.
perience of our seniors in ethics as We
are in scientific research, the worlC
would grow wiser and better from gen.
Grafton to generation. But in this
matter we are astonishingly inconsist
ent. The children in our schools smile
at the inconsistencies of the Ptolem aiC
theory of astronomy, while we patterr
our laws and model our social regula.
tions by the utteranees of law-give
of the same country and a previous
age.
But where lies the remedy2 Plainly
in doing in these matters as we do il
the pursuit of other knowledge, subjec
every moral precept to the test of sci
ence and experience, and if it is founC
to be right, and conducive to the vel
fare and happiness of the race, observ
it, enforce it, otherwise repudiate i
outright.
Were we as willing to take advantag
Of the experience of others in everything
as we are of their researches in natura
science, the son might take up lif
!
every one, absurd as it may seem, want
his own experience, bitter as it may bt
Nowhere is this unaccountable incor
sistency more plainly seen than in th
matrimonial lottery. We give ou
hand for life to one of whom we kno,
absolutely nothing, to afterward reali7
the fact that our tastes, our sympathie
/. and our aspirations are as diverse 6
possible-not to speak of physical ini
daptability-and a life of misery an
disappointment is the result. Ever
kindly impulse of our souls, every Ell
nobling quality of mind and heart mui
wither and die within US, our part o
the stage Of life be untitled, and instea
} of harmony in the machinery of natur
there is perpetual jarrlng and discord
When will the world learn wisdom /
this matter2