Excerpt from Progress of Statistics; Read Before the American Geographical Statistical Society, at the Annual Meeting in New York: Dec 1, 1859
The human mind dwells with satisfaction upon ascertained results, and finds pure enjoyment in the contemplation of truths which evince a progressive knowledge respecting the real condition of the human family.
Theories, by exciting the mental faculties, create an interest according to the novelty or magnitude and importance of their topics; but, based as they are on uncertainty, exercise only, but do not satisfy the mind, which finds repose in truths alone; a repose more or less affected by the degree of confidence with which we are enabled to determine what is truth, particularly in its relation to ourselves.
Disturb the mind with doubt or harrow it with uncertainty, man's convictions afford but little real comfort, and however correct they maybe in the abstract, they yield but little pleasure, while their weakness deprives him of the ability or dispotion to exert an influence by the impress of his sentiments upon others. Fanaticism may inspire confidence and courage, but its influence is apt to be temporary and limited. With regard to matters of conscience, and the determination of truths respecting religious trust, the same force of conviction as would naturally arise from actual demonstration, must exist to inspire faith and confidence, but conclusions in that case rest, in the nature of things, upon what is not susceptible of demonstration by any appeal to facts, and the mind settles upon what it deems most consistent with its convictions of a superior Providence and its relations to humanity, upon tradition or Divine Revelation, calling into play the comforting influences of faith. Religious convictions force themselves upon the belief because of our relations to what we know to be true. Man perceives himself infinitely above all other creatures which inhabit the globe he occupies; he realizes that all created things are constructed for his uses, and discovers his ability to overcome all physical obstacles to the attainment of his wishes, while he has not the power to construct or create the most trifling object in nature; himself the work of an intellect or force as immeasurably above his own as his is superior to those beneath him.
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