Buchanan's Journal of Man, June 1887: Volume 1, Number 5 — John Shaqi
Buchanan's Journal of Man, June 1887: Volume 1, Number 5
Philosophy
Buchanan's Journal of Man, June 1887: Volume 1, Number 5
Medicine -- Periodicals; Phrenology -- Periodicals; Science -- Periodicals
But now Mr. Lowell comes out to call forth Bostonians for his
chosen themes, and what are they? The discussion of old
English dramatists! If there is anything more dead and
worthless than antiquated plays which are forgotten, what is
it? If there is anything more worthy of the name of _rubbish_,
pray let us know what it is. But Boston crowds to hear
disquisitions which from men in a different social position
would be voted a bore, and sits reverently and patiently to
catch his feeble and to many, scarce audible utterances. Is
not this the worship of triviality and trash! How different
would have been the action of John Hancock, of Samuel Adams,
of Fisher Ames, or of Wendell Phillips. The atmosphere of
European courts is debilitating to American Republicanism,
unless it be a profound sentiment of the heart. When my
brother-in-law returned from his position as minister to
Naples, I could see that he had learned to look upon the
common people as a rabble, and to sympathize only with the
aristocracy. Cassius M. Clay at St. Petersburg learned to
sympathize with the Russians, but he returned with no
impairment of his democratic principles.
Not there, amid the pedantries of "culture," do we find the atmosphere
for free and benevolent thought, but rather far away from such
influences, in the forests, the mountain and prairie, where man comes
more nearly into communion with nature, and forgets the inheritance of
ancient error which every corporate institution preserves and
perpetuates. It is to this widespread audience that the JOURNAL OF MAN
appeals and offers a new suggestion.
In sending forth the "New Education," hoping for some appreciative
response from educational circles in which collegiate influences
prevail, I did not deem it prudent to introduce some of the noblest
thoughts that belong to the great theme. The book was sent forth
limited and incomplete, hoping that, heretical as it was, and quite
irreverent toward the ignorance descended from antiquity, it might
still receive sufficient approbation and appreciation to justify later
introduction of matter that would have hindered its first reception.
It has reached the third edition, but it has been very apparent that
its reception was cordial and enthusiastic only among the most
progressive minds, the number of which increases as we travel
westward, and San Francisco called for more copies than the leading
cities of the East.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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