National Scientific and ICdiicational Institutions. 323 



Those of more recent s^rowth, such as the Army Medical Museum, 

 founded in 1S62;' the Bureau of Kducation, founded in 1867;"' the I'ish 

 Commission, founded in 1870;' the Bureau of I\thnoloti:y, founded in 1879/ 

 although not less important than many of those already discussed, are 

 so recent in origin that the events connected with their development have 

 not passed into the domain of history. 



The material results of the scientific work of the Government during 

 the past ten years undoubtedly surpass in extent all that had been accom- 

 plished during the previous hundred years of the independent existence 

 of the nation. With this recent })eriod the present paper has n(j concern, 

 for it has been written from the standpoint of Carlyle, who, in vSartor 

 Resartus, states his belief that "in every phenomenon the beginning 

 remains always the most notable moment." 



It is nevertheless very encouraging to be assured that the attitude of 

 our Government toward scientific and educational enterprises is every 

 3'ear l)ecoming more and more in harmony with the hopes of the founders 

 of our Republic, and in accord with the views of such men as Washing- 

 ton, Franklin, Jefferson, John Adams, Madison, Monroe, John Ouincy 

 Adams, Gallatin, and Rush. 



It is also encouraging to know that the national attitude toward science 

 is the subject of constant approving comment in luirope. Perhaps the 

 most significant recent utterance was that of vSir I^yon Pla}-fair in his 

 address before the British Association for the Advancement of vScience, 

 at the Aberdeen meeting. He said: 



On September 14, 1.S59, I sat on tliis ])lalforni and listened to the elocjnenl address 

 and wise counsel of the Prince Consort. At one time a member of his household, 

 it was my privilege to cooperate with this illustrious prince in many (jue.stions 

 relating to the advancement of science. I naturally, therefore, turned to his presi- 

 dential address to see whether I might not now continue those counsels which he 

 then gave with all the breadth and comprL-hensivcness of his masterly .speeches. 1 

 found, as I expected, a text for my own discourse in some iiregnant remarks which 

 he made vipon the relation of Science to the State. They are as follows: " We may 

 be justified in hoping . . . that the I^-gislature and the State will more and more 

 recognize the claims of .science to their attention, so that it may no longer require 

 the begging-box, but .speak to the State like a favored child to its parent, sure of his 

 paternal solicitude for its welfare; that the State will recognize in science one of its 

 elements of .strength and prosperity, to foster which the clearest dictates of .self- 

 interest demand." 



This opinion, in its broadest .sen.se, means tliat the relations of .science to the .State 

 .should be made more intimate becau.se the advance of .science is needful to the 

 public weal. 



' See J. S. Billings, Medical Mu.seums, with Special Reference to the Army Med- 

 ical Mu.seum at Wa.shington. President's address, delivered before the Congress of 

 American Physicians and vSurgeons, vSeptember 20, 18S8. 



" See the eighteen annual reports of the Connnissioner of Ivducation. 



3vSee G. Brown Goode, The .Status of the United States I'ish Commission in 1884, 

 etc., Washington, 1884. 



-•See the six annual reports of the Bureau, and the Sniith.sonian reports, 1S79-1S88. 



