The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-03-05
Arctic Exploration for 1882.

PREPARATIONS are being made BY
nearly all the countries of Europe and
by America for a regular Arctic siege,
to begin in 1882; the days of Arctic
campaigns are past. We have reached
the precincts of the citadel itself. and
now the sappers and miners must be-
gin their slow but sure work, to be cap
ped at the proper time by grand as
sault. Germany, Austria, Norway,
Sweden, Russia, Denmark, the United
States, and we believe Canada. are all
to take part in this great work BY estab-
fishing observing stations at suitable
points all around the polar area; while
Italy is to send out next year a scien-
tifcally equipped expedition to the
Antarctic region, our knowledge OF
which is meager and uncertain. This
last will really be an observing as well
as an exploring expedition, preparatory
to the establishment of an Antarctic
station. Should our Geographical So
ciety take any steps in the direction of
Arctic work, we trust it will not be to
encourage the foolish venture for which
the country has been canvassed for sub.
scriptions for years. We hope that so
ciety will see that as scientific BODY its
duty is to encourage a scientific method
of work; and if it appeals to Govern
ment at all, let it be to nrge it, for tha
honor of our country, to join in the con
cert of both hemispheres for the siege o,
the polar citadel. We have already
pointed out on several occasions the
vast gains to science that might be ex-
pected from the work of sertzs OF
polar observatories established on the
plans so ably sketched by Lieutenant
Weyprecht. AS DR.. Neumayer said in
recent address, men of science do not
demand practical or so-called utilitarian
reasons before giving their adhesion to
any new work; it is enough if it can be
shown that such work will conduce to
the advancement of knowledge; and
that Weyprecht's scheme of polar OBJ
servatories, of which so many Govern
ments approve, will lead to vast addi-
tons being made to scientific knowl-
edge, no man of science needs to be
told. In meteorology, terrestrial mag
netism, biology, geology and glacial
physics, the gains would be i'm
mense; and the history of science has
taught us over and over again that the
surest path to practical and benefcent
results is through the gate of pure
scientific research. Every day is the
science of meteorology becoming more
and more Important; but until we are
thoroughly acquainted with the meteor
ology of the Arctic regions the most
practical of sciences is deprived of what
is perhaps its most important factor.
But one element of the international
scheme is that of polar exploration,
conducted, however, on scientific
method, and along lines indicated by
scientific knowledge of arctic condi-
tons such as can only be obtained by
permanent observing stations. What
success is likely to result from arctic
work carried out on such a method was
triumphantly shown by Baron Nor
denskjold when he sailed along the
northeast passage in the Vega. Why,
then, should not England set up
station on Franz-Josef Land, and anoth-
er, say, on some part of the American
coastP Let the station be provided with
the means of carrying out exploration
in whatever direction and by whatever
means the results of continued observa.
ton may indicate--as far as the pole
itself, if need be. Unless we are blind
to the teachings of science and the
lessons of our last expensive expedition,
it is clear that this is the only sure
method of reaching the pole, if it be
thought absolutely necessary for the
credit of England that she should be the
first to get at a point which it will take
considerable trouble to spot. If our
Government be well advised, we are
sure they will never give the public
funds either for any great national ex-
petition modelled on the lines of the
past, nor to any private chimera got up
for the glory of one man and the gratifi-
cation of balloonists. We do not see
how, without national discredit, England
can keep aloof from an international
scheme the scientific and practical re-
suits of which will be of worldwide
importance; and it is the duty of the
Geographical Society to lend all the
weight of its influence to induce the
English Government to take up its share
in the new and only effectual method Of
polar exploration. Mature.