25 
On the contrary, ought we not to expect them to use every proper 
effort to shun the sneers of foreigners at our incapacity, and to falsify 
their scandals, that we are inclined to make war on learning?— or play 
the Goth with the splendid monuments of arts and science — consigning, 
Omar-like, libraries and cabinets to rottenness or flames, and evincing a 
Jack Cade aversion to every thing that favors progress in intelligence or 
civilization ? Yery far from such a spirit was that of the founders of the 
colleges, and the tax-paying supporters of the free schools of the North, 
or of their imitators in the South and West, or of those who incorporated 
into our land system such liberal grants by the General Government for 
both colleges and schools ; or of the statesmen, who made it an express 
constitutional duty to encourage inventions and authors, under a far- 
seeing sagacity, that otherwise we were not likely to keep up with the 
age in scientific improvements, and be able to compete with foreigners 
successfully, whether in producing or selling, either at home or in the 
markets of the world, by making as cheaply our vast products in agri- 
culture and manufactures, and navigating the ocean with them as cheap- 
ly as others. 
But the considerate must see that there is an obligation devolved upon 
us, as the leading Republic on this new continent, much higher than 
merely to avoid censure, or aspire to equality, in these respects, with ar- 
bitrary governments. 
It is to demonstrate to the old world, by deeds, no less than reason- 
ing, that our new theory of private rights and public duties is conducive 
to progress in every thing useful; and this should not only become the 
views and the effort of the statesman and the patriot, but it will be a 
common and national feeling, more and more yearly, with every new 
ray of light poured into the public mind, and with every new sting of 
insult or taunt from foreign envy. Already do many see that, with some 
obstacles, there exist many encouragements to scientific exertions, grow- 
ing out of our peculiar institutions, and which may, by a useful policy, 
and conviction among the many of its truth, be made to render that ex- 
ertion not less, but even more, effective, than in any other portion of the 
globe. Thus, in a population of twenty millions, for instance, where 
most are educated and aspiring instead of a small fraction, and where 
the intelligent force of all kinds, in any given number of persons, is 
trebled or quadrupled, and the masses, instead of being a dead weight 
or clog as elsewhere, unites with the rest in imparting stronger momen- 
tum to the whole advancement of society — can it be tolerated for a mo- 
