Year: 1875

ouiy Inc purpose OF tuo RIodC bcleutluc WofA


but it would thoroughly satisfy the temper


and cooperative disposition of the people !;


for, although we are naturally energetic


and enterprising, we are not jealous. 1t is


charged against Americans that they are too


much given to mere material gain and disre-


gard the aesthetic aspects Of life but we


present fine array of scientific work done


for its own sake, and many of the most re-


nowned scientists of the world are to-day


Americans. Who does not recall with salts


faction the famous Wilkes Expedition around


the world, the perilous journeys of Lewis


and Clark, Fremont and Wheeler and Hayden


in the Far West, and the discovery by DR.. Kane


of the open Polar Sea and who will not hail


with the loudest plaudits the American citi-


zen who plants the American flag at the North


Pole? Such an event would shed not only


lustre upon the scientific achievements of our
country and fame upon the actors but glory


upon every one who had hand in promoting
sense Of modification if, after so many
years of toll and privation by our ex-


plorers during the past twenty years.


another nation quietly slips in and
plucks the apple which has ripened under our
cultivation? For all are now agreed that the
American highway to the North Pole is the
true way. 1t has been accepted with reluct-
ance, but the fact is none the less true that it
has been approved. With respect to its ad-
vantages DR.. Hayes has done much in the
way of proof; for he it was who first dis
covered the real bearing Of the currents
upon the navigation of the Smith Sound
route, when he went there with his little
schooner, and paved the way for the remark
able success Of Captain Halt. We are by no
means envious of the English and, after all,
Notwithstanding every effort, Smith Sound,
like all routes hitherto attempted, may prove
to be impracticable but, since the English
are going there in any event, should we not
be in, if it must be SO, at the death
1t will be crying shame if we
calmly fold our hands and quietly wait
for others to gain the prize. or even to prove
there is no prize to be won there. DR.. Hayes
announces his willingness to conduct another
expedition into region of which he knows
Aoio GuaA any hNiuB uiaH, naViuB oeeu tueIc
twice; or, in the event of naval expedition
being decided upon, be suggests the names Of
several naval officers, qualified by their e1-
perience for such an undertaking. When We
consider what great things have been done
with little means we cannot think Congress
will be backward in taking the matter up and
acting upon it promptly. 1t should be
matter of national pride. The entire cost of
the Kane Expedition did not exceed twenty
five thousand dollars; that of Hayes was even
less, and Halls was fitted out under gov
ernment appropriation of only fifty thousand.
The country will, We are convinced, be heart
lily glad to see finely equipped expedition
sent to cooperate with the English and Ger
mans in honorable rivalry for one of the very
few geographical trophies remaining to be
won. 1t was different in the days of Colum-
bus; but, now that we have nearly completed
the survey of the earth, let America have her
fair share in making it perfect