National Republican., 1877-09-24
INTELLECTUAL CULTURE IN AMER
TCd,

HAzLIrT, in one Of his charming essays,
well says "the extreme tendency of civiliza-
ton Is to dissipate all intellectual energy
and dissolve all moral principle Wealth
being the chief instrumentality by which
Ia advanced, corrupts while II
rcfines. Luxuries ef1eminate men and dis
pose them to avoid labor and rest contented
with intellectual mediocrity. It is easier
for us to enjoy the fruit OF the labor Of
others than to achieve worthy things for
ourselves. The problem remains to be
solved as to how intellectual progress in
America will be affected by the all-absorb-
ing passion for money which characterizes
our people. The fact that in many in
stances noble use has been made ofwealth
IN America should not blind us to the fact
that by fhr the greatest portion of it has
not been devoted to worthy objects. Too
often the fortunes accumulated by the
enterprise and energy Of the fathers Is
quickly dissipated by the vices Of the sons
% as to promote neither the intellectual
nor moral advancement of the nation.
Intellectual progress in America is liable
70 be affected by another cause. We pos
sess such rich literary treasures derived from
England that there is danger Of our resting
atisfied with Them and thereby ultimately
sinking into that condition of int"'lectra
torpor which characterized the people o" the
Byzantine empire. They preserved and read
the masterpieces of Grecian literature for
thousand years, yet they made no discov |
cries in science-thcy produced no great
poems or histories. Nor did the fine arts
make any progress in Constantinoplc, al
though the cities of Greece md Asia Minor
had been plundered TO ornament 1t with
the choicest works of PHIDIAs and LYsIP
Pus.
History contains abundant instances TO
prove that the seats of wealth and civiliZa-
ton are not necessarily centres of intellectual
activity On the contrary, simplicity of man
ners and moderate pccuniary means have
always been most favorable TO the highest
development of the mental powers of men.
Consider the state of society in Greece
during the period which produced such
men rs PERICLEs, SoPHoCLEs, THrCYDIpEs,
PHIpIAs, DEMosTHESEs, SOCRATES and
Pluto. Their diet was plain, their clothing
simple and cheap, their household expenses
small. Physical discipline was systemati-
cally and diligently attended to, so that
they did not destroy the vigor of their
bodies by dispropOrtionate mental labor.
They lived much in society, out of doors,
orally discussing all affairs Of State. litcra-
ture and art. The simplicity Of their lives
kept them free from the pccuninry cares
like those that worry us and affect unflvor-
ably our 'apacity for intellectual work.
The cultivation of physical strength thor
ough intellectual training, and the main
tenance of the principles of sound morality
are requisite to give vitality and progress
iveness to the civilization Of n nation. In
order that mental activity may be pre-
served, II is necessary that original works
in literature and art should be continually
produced. Mere imitation destroys all in
tellectual vigor, and consequently all orig
fnality. The tendency TO become mere
imitators of what has already been achieved
in literature and art forms one of the great
est obstacles in the way of our advancement
In those forms of culture. II therefore be-
comes q very important question as to how
this tendency can be counteracted.
Obviously, one of the surcst means for &C
oomplishng the desired end would be to
fbster by every means in our power q spirit
Of nationalism. In this way American
thought could be rendered continually more
independent and self-rclant. There are
many ways in which the attainment of such
result could be aided. but no other would
be so effectual as the concentration of all
the leading artists and writers of the nation
nj some central point where they could en-
Joy the benefits of each others society. The
oiHIhc Initttcr VI prinpiHR All the men VI
culture together in university city is the
oil Important one. Imagine for moment
that large majority Of all the distinguished
,MteiaIy men in America were now residing
In Washington. How soon the city wOuld
Be flied with Young aspirants for fame in
literature and the fine arts How great
would be the benefits which our men of
letters would themselves derive from ming
ling in each others society! If all our
writer's were thus continually comming-
ling with each other at the National Capt.
tnl the increased originality and breadth Of
their views would soon be manifested in
tbe p oductions of their pens. We would
hen have literature distinctively Ameri'
osn.
The first step towards the establishment
Of such capital for American literature
and art would be to endow true univer.
sity at the National Capital. Such an
institution would bring here at once q
large body of learned men. The desire oI
Lnioying their society and the other ad.
vantages for intellectual improvement
which the city already possesses would
soon attract hither large numbers Of literary
men. In pleading for q university VIC arc
simply asking that the intentions of the
founders Of the Republic he carried out
The measure has been delayed for thrc,
quarters of q century, while the reasons fol
its adoption have been growing continually
stronger.
1t ought to be distinctly understood tina
the proposed university would in no man
ner interfere with the utility of institution
already established. II would tend (,
strengthen them by bringing intellectual
worth into higher esteem and increasing tn,
popular desire for the acquisition of learn
ing. A wcll-endowed national univcrsit,
would raise the general standard of cduca
tion throughout the Republic, and woul,
result in largely increased endowments 20
oil worthy local institutions. They should
therefore, take deep interest in the success
Of this gr.at mea 'ure.
REORGANLZAT TION OF THE DLSTRIC.