New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-26
4 STATEsMAy'S VIEW or SCIENCE.

While Americans can hardly be expected 10
| approvr Of Lord Salisbury rs statesman, repre-
scnting AS he does Ill that Is most rcactonaTy
| and narrow minded In English political life, YET
they may find much 10 admire in the brilliant
address which he delivered the other day at
oxford rs president Of the British Association.
The latter is a species Of convention attended
by the principal savants Of the United Nihg
dom as we'll rs by many Of their foreign COZ
leagues M which the chief scientific discoveries
Of the last twelve months are passed In review.
and plons are discussed for future research
and investigation.
That Lord Salisbury should have been elected
10 preside at this gathering was not alone be-
cause he happens 10 be the chancellor oi mat
ancient university under the shadow OF whose
venerable walls this learned congress held It's
session. but was likewise meant rs tribute
to his scientific attachments. Though with Il
molesty conspicuously absent In his political
ut,cranccs he spoke of himself as a layman,
and as no more fitted 10 preside over the British
Association than "A colonel OF volunteers 10 re-
view a division Of regulars, yet his speech
served 10 stamp him In the eyes OF all rs man
who II he had not succeeded in stateslnanship,
would have achieved prc-cmincnce In the world
OF science A chemist Of remarkable acquire
mcnts. who devotcs every leisure moment 10
the superb laboratory fitted up in his home at
Hatfield there Is scarcely any learned problem
or scientific question Of the day that does not
receive his attcniion-an attention characterized
by so much breadth Of view, enlightenment and
spirit OF progress as 10 invite regret That ne
cannot see his way to impart these most de-
slrable qualities to his political views.
Full OF charm and OF knowledge, at once
learned and literary, with fine touches Of irony
and every suggestion OF Il clear and vigorous
mind. Lord Sasbury's inaugural address adopt
ed as its theme the depth Of our ignorance rather
than the extent Of our knowledge. The lesson
which he sought 10 enforce and which is par
ticularly opportune at the present moment, when
80 many third rate devoces OF science affect
swaggcr as II the universe no longer possessed
any secrets for thcm--was that 1--WE live in Il
small bright oasis Of knowledge surrounded by
"a vast uncxplored desert Of impcnerable mys-
"tery." While he admits the full value Of the
achievements Of scientific research, he points out
that the vast majority OF the riddles propounded
by Nature have up till now detied investigation
and failed to receive solution. And the general
drift Of his speech was to the effect that many
Of the principal problems never will be solved
by natural man. Science may tell us much that
Is interesting and useful but to the questions
whence we come. whittier we go, and to the
hundred thousand problems bound up therein
science can give us no answer.
1t must be source Of sincere qualification to
the British people that 50 many Of their leading
statesmen have achieved distinction and fame
In walks Of life other than those purely political
Lord Salisbury Is by no means an exception,
and II merely needs passing reference to Mr..
Gladstone. Mr. BalfOur. Mr.. John Morley. and
to that Lord Derby who was known as the