The New York herald., 1878-02-26
DANGEROUS INNOVATIONS.
limitations of Old Monarchies In
compatible with Democracy.
PROPHETIC UTTERANCES
VIII America Be the Lawgiver
of the World Z?
[BY rR1ronApH TO THE HERALD. I

Ralph Waldo Emerson lectured this afternoon before
select audience the Old South Church the
"Futurc OF the Republic" The old philosopher 10
fast fading away though his intellect lost none
OF s vgor or originality, his body s bending beneath
The accumulation of years. Three times the lecture
had been postponed owing to illness, and even to-day
It was almost impossible to hear him even on the
front benches. His voice, which strong,
has become feeble, and tho additional disadvantage Of
bad cold madc the lecture failure, as far as the
enjoyment or instruction OF the audience
cerned. His prevailing idea the groundwork OF his
essay was that II this Republic Ia succeed 1t
succeed by the thoughts the efforts and ned action
Of It's people THIS IL country aud It ought to
be run on and original plan. What Ia the use,
he contendsd. Of conducting new government or =
new world in the same style and after tho same
fashion as The old ones OF Europe. whose systems
we are accustomed TO criticise and ABUSE
WHOLESOME ADVICE TO AMERICANS.
Tho people who 90 TO London and Paris each year
and come home filed with the ideas OF those capitals
and prepared to copy and carry them out Mr. Emer-
ion regards dangerous to the nations welfare aud
destructive OF ITS best interests. He thinks they had
better stay At homo and develop the resources of
!her own country rather than fly the water to
spend their money European products. II they
are not satisfied with what they have at homo let
them stay abroad ind not be guilty OF the grievous
SIN OF yearly drawing away q portion Of
their couniry's life blood. II Republic succeeds
the Concord philosopher thinks II must succeed by
American brains. American arms aud American prin.
eiples He pointed out tho hardy OF the Plains
and the Western settlements az the best types Of
American honesty and fraternity. They were forced
to live together IN Wild regons band together for
mutual protection against Indians aud thieves OF their
own race. but the rugged stern sense of justice
persistent efforts Of these men, their Industry, their
perseverance, and their success result OF all, 20
10 show tna the native genius OF the Western world
must direct and ead to nnal victory the young Re.
public.
PLArDIrs FOR STURDY WEST
1t cannot tail TO strike the outside barbarian as
strange that purely Boston institution should bs
Able TO Keep root from tumbling IN on any man,
much more an OLD Bostonian philosopher who limited
that this Republic could bs ruin or set for
ward on the ROAD TO perfection by any brains or any
ideas or efforts than those OF New England. Mr..
Emerson not only lauded the pluck and
sturdy principles OF tue pioneers on the
Plains aId in the Western States, but
he never alluded 10 the Pilgrim fathers Not a
word oil advice, which - common such an occa.
sion, 10 tho young men follow the example OF tho
Pilgrim fathers 10 initiate the Puritan virtue and toll
erance Not word about the giories oil Bunker Hill
nor the memories that cluster around the Old South
and Old North churches. No, he wanted tho young
men TO bs original in their ideas. not to
England and France to Initiate inc primitive honesty
OF the early settlers who opened up the Mississippi
AMI Missouri valleys, and the Republic would be q
permanent success.
wIsDoM J. COUNCIL
I, Mr.. Emerson said there Is a rule of perfection in
chemistry as we'll as in mechanics Ever since Sir
Isaac Newton explained Parliament that the way to
Improve navigation TO gei good watches. 10
attain which they must offer puDlic rewards for bet.
ter chronometer than any tn The perfection
oil umekecping has advanced until have chronome.
ters that do not lose two three seconds year.
Manufacturers rely on chomical and ydrauic perec.
ton carpet makers borders and dyes when ex.
haust the skin Of the chemist and calico pruters on
the designs OF geniua Wedgewood, the emf.
mont potter. gravey took counsel with Flax
man, the sculptor, and he said 'Send 10
Italy and the for vases and urns and
sacriaciai vessels Of all Sorts" Tney built great
woiks, and called their manufacturing village
Eruria Fiaxman, with his great genius, combined
the oveiest form executed Englisn ely, and
sent boxes OF those gits every Europe,
anu formed the tasto OF the world. II was the
nassaucc OF tns china OF breakfast table, Jewell
lers inflated ,hess models in gold aud the
other branches oil artsanship endcavored 70 make q
perfect ensemble OF them. Every insurance
Office has ITS mathematical counsellor 10 settle
ns averages Tue wine merchant mas his analyst and
faster, me moro exquisite the better. He owes l
mink, IN some cases, MIS- tasto 70 the chemist we'll
~ ~ the vineyard. (LaughteE)
PLANTS coMMRRcR
Our modern needs stand on Y lew staples. ln our
war was exaggerated IN It's in portance
cotton. Aud wnat is cotton? plant out OF some
Two hundred Thousand, known 10 botanIsts, vastly
the largest part OF which are reckoned weeds And
what Is u wesd2 plant whose virtues Cot yet
been discovered Yet every of the 200 900 plants
PROBABLY are yet 10 be OF utility In the arts as
Baccnus OF the vine, ceres OF the wheat. As Ark
wright and Whitney were tho demigods OF cotton so
IN time there vii, yet Oe an invention ~ every plant
10 seek and nnd IT, There 10 not plant In the whole
magazine OF material nature that cannot DO made a |
power IN the hands OF thinking mon. Every ap-
plication Is equivalent n material. Our sleepy
sviization nen Roger Bacon and Monk schwartz bad
invented gunpowder, built Its whole ART oil war all
ior,incations by land ami sea- all dr military edu-
cation on that point, "War IS the extension vi gun
barrel, and vory sc0rniu about bows aud arrows,
ana reckons Greeks and Romans little better than
the men oi The bow and times" As though the |
eurths gases, tue lightning ana caloric had not mill
Ions o energies, the discovery or any one Of winch
Would change the art Of war again put end 10
II by their exterm.nating force.
RKPREskHTATivE HUMANITY.
II this 10 true ~ the nue arts that direction must be
drawn from q superior source or there would DO no
good works Does u hold less In and civil |
NOR In our politics We may know tnat each aspxnt
who above the crowd after serving hi obedcnt
apprenticeship 10 party politics. nnds by no
. means ny obeying the vulgar wealhsrcock Of his |
parV's Tears and wtlms that real power is gained,
10 larger following, is 10 see or himsei |
what Is tho real public interest, and 10 |
bissings OF the crowd must W ana by accommoda,e
thsusevcs 10 that Prince MoIternich said srevo uons
bexIn m the bust heads ANA ru stsa.y down 10 tne
populace." II Is doubtful whether Paris, whether |
London can answer Tue great question when the |
human mind is az this moment ready 10 Ask whether
The humanity ol all hatons ig now u the American
Uuion Eng Aud. France, Russia, are historic |
names; every momont some country |
more than another represents this sentiment |
Di Tho future OF mankind. Az the present time |
none Will doubt that America occupies tnis place IN
tue opInon oi all naonA but II Is an illustration OF
The theories vi political economsts 1t s tue topic to
wuich all foreign journalists return as thcy
have uealt with tnelr local politics.
BoSAPARrR's PREDICTION FOR AMERICA.
Napoleon Bvnaparte affirmed 1916 that In |
twenty-five years tne united States would die. |
late tho policy OF Europe. Tue prophecy was
a iipo premature, but II 10 Just being confirmed.
IL 10 proved by lne tact oi the vast immlgra-
ton in,o this country from all tho NATIONS |
Of Western and Central Europe, and when they |
have planted themselves here aud looked about they
send oack thoir money 10 bripg their triendA Mean
WINE thcy hnd this country just passing through
great Crisis IN us history as necessary as lactaton,
deptitlon or puberty 10 the human individual We