REPORT ON THE HENRY STATUE. XXXIII 



nation's integrity and the perpetuation of its united life. There were 

 times when this seemed doubtful, when from the Capitol itself, and even 

 from this Institution below it, there might almost be descried the threat- 

 ening Hues and fortifications of those who would not scruple to sacrifice 

 both to the impetuous necessity of what was called lawful war. During 

 these years of agitating strife it was but the dictate of a well-poised 

 self-command which kept Professor Henry quietly at his work, with no 

 doubtful loyalty indeed, but in such singleness of aim, that when peace 

 was conquered it found n<5 personal bitterness towards himself in the 

 ranks of scientific men. To his philosophic wisdom and his unques- 

 tioned integrity it may, iu part, be owiug that, after the centennial 

 anniversary of 1876, the natiou was so ready to enlarge the appliances 

 of science and at the same time to commemorate its own continued 

 life by erectiug upon these grounds, under the care of the Smithsonian 

 Institution, the splendid National Museum, which all delight to visit 

 and to praise. 



The fact cannot be disguised that the devotees of science have aliena- 

 tions and strifes of their own, sometimes arising from personal jeal- 

 ousies and more frequently from opposing theories. Professor Henry 

 was lifted above all personal partisanship by the severe singleness with 

 which he devoted himself to his scientific and official activities. He 

 never sought for place or honor, directly or indirectly. He was fasti- 

 diously sensitive in respect to the appropriation of his own inventions 

 by the production of a patent or a claim for extra compensation. His 

 salary was notoriously smaller than he might have earned in other posts, 

 but he never either deserted his post, or asked for increase of pay. In- 

 deed the last was declined more than once when suggested by his friends. 

 It was only when his truthfulness was questioned in respect to one of 

 the most important of his discoveries, that he vindicated his claims to 

 scientific confidence. Whoever might be jealous of his fellow scientists, 

 no one could question Henry's even-handed justice or his personal up- 

 rightness. 



Iu the wars of theory against theory he was recognized as an upright 

 mediator, who thoroughly understood the criteria by which scientific 

 truth can be established and would impartially apply them. If political 

 or ethical or theological traditions seemed to conflict with established 

 scientific principles or facts, he calmly awaited the issue and insisted 

 that science must have its rights whatever might be the consequences 

 to any received ethical or theological interpretations. Though his own 

 faith was fixed and fervent iu respect to the leading Christian verities, 

 he scorned with all the energy of scientific integrity to apply these con- 

 victions as a test to any question that was properly scientific. It would 

 have been strange if a man who was always learning something new 

 had not modified his views of objective and practical Christian truth 

 with the progress of his mind and his manhood, but he would never 

 acknowledge any t>ase compromise of sentiinentalism or mysticism or 

 H. Mis. 69 in 



