The National tribune., 1882-04-29
A Waste of Energy.

There is, perhaps, no page Of the worlds
history that is so rich in adventure as that
which contains the records of polar explora-
ton. From the time of those daring north
80 avigators- Cabots-to the present
he Arctic seas have possessed a terrible
alton alike for the savant and the
and whenever the means have been
nd to equip an expedition the men
always been at hand, too, to conduct
ration seem but to have increased the
n for it; and so the battle of man with
ements goes on perpetually, in spite of
shipwreck, starvation, and death. Every
disastrous voyage necessitates the fitting out
of a relief expedition, and every relief expe-
dition occasions new solicitude. The printed
records Of polar research constitute litera-
ture in Themselves literature abounding
in thrilling incident and heroic feats, but
oh! how barren of benifcent achievement.
1t stirs the blood to read the story of Cap
tain Kane's long contest with ice and snow
and hunger and sickness; and one cannot
help admiring the skill and courage which
the explorers of the present day display in
their struggle with the obstacles to Arctic
navigation; yet, it is impossible not to feel
that all this fortitude and daring is to no
purpose, and the world is no better off for
the sacrifice of so many lives, and so much
treasure, on the altar of polar discovery
The old delusion, that the location of the
Northwest passage would open up a new
highway for commerce, was long ago ex-
ploded, and no one any longer pretends to
look for any more substantial result than
the extension of geographical knowledge.
We are prompted to make these observa-
tions by the news which has reached us of
the disastrous termination of the voyage of
the U. S. Steamer Rodgers which was sent
out last year to succor the missing Jeanette,
and the announcement that the Government
will now dispatch a vessel to the relief of
the survivors. What will be the final out
come of the so-called enterprise of Mr. Ben
nett? The net results are, so far, the total
loss of the Jeanette, with q part of the
officers and crew, the burning of the Rodgers,
and the endangering of more lives in the
attempt to rescue those that are already in
jeopardy. Science has profted nothing by
these expeditions, beyond the discovery of
few petty islands. The geography of the
polar regions remains as obscure us ever
The only apparent beneficiary is, indeed, the
New York Herald, which is thus provided
with O news sensation that will fill its col |
umns for months to come.
Is it worth while? Mr.. Bennett may
think so, but surely the time has come when !
the Government should cease to lend it's aid |
to schemes of mere adventure that involve |
a useless expenditure of public money, and |
risk precious life to no purpose We are |
quite willing to admit that the stories which
the Herald couriers traverse the desolate
Siberian plains to telegraph to that journal
make very interesting reading, but we can
not help thinking that if Mr.. Bennett had
devoted the money which he spent in fitting
out the Jeanette to the founding of
Soldiers Home for the crippled and impov-
erished defenders of his country, he would
have won fame much more substantial
and enduring than any which he can posi-
bly, acquire by his disastrous attempts at
Arctic discovery.