ADDRESS OF HON. J. A. GARFIELD. 95 



Such an adviser was never more needed than at the date of Profes- 

 sor Henry's arrival at the capital. 



The distinguished scientific gentlemen who have addressed us so 

 eloquently, have portrayed the difficulties which beset the Govern- 

 ment in its attempt to determine how it should wisely and worthily 

 execute the trust of Smithson. It was a perilous moment for the 

 credit of America when that bequest was made. In his large 

 catholicity of mind, Smithson did not trammel the bequest with 

 conditions. In nine words he set forth its object — "for the 

 increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." He asked and 

 believed that America would interpret his wish aright and with the 

 liberal wisdom of science. 



A town meeting is not a good place to determine scientific truths. 

 And the yeas and nays that are called from this desk from day to 

 day are not the supreme test of science, as the country finds when 

 we attempt to settle any scientific question, whether it relates to the 

 polariscope or to finance. 



For ten years Congress wrestled with those nine words of Smith- 

 son and could not handle them. Some political philosopher- of 

 that period held that we had no constitutional authority to accept 

 the gift at all, and proposed to send it back to England. Every 

 conceivable proposition was made. The colleges clutched at it; the 

 libraries wanted it; the publication societies desired to scatter it. 

 The fortunate settlement of the question was this: after ten years 

 of wrangling, Congress was wise enough to acknowledge its own 

 ignorance, and authorized a body of men to rind some one who 

 knew how to settle it. And these men were wise enough to choose 

 your great comrade to undertake the task. Sacrificing his brilliant 

 prospects as a discoverer, he undertook the difficult work. He 

 drafted a paper, in which he ottered an interpretation of the will 

 of Smithson, mapped out apian which would meet the demands of 

 science, and submitted it to the suffrage of the republic of scientific 



