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About Torch of reason. (Silverton, Oregon) 1896-1903 | View Entire Issue (April 22, 1897)
T orch VOL. 1. of B eason . SILVERTON, OREGON, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, Í89?. Haste Not! Rest Not! W ithout h a ste! w ith o u t rest! Bind the m otto to th y b re a st; Bety it w ith th ee as a s p e ll; Storm or su n sh in e, guard it w e ll! Heed not flbwers th a t round th ee bloom, B ear it onw ard to th e to m b ! Rest not! Life is sw eeping by, Go and dare, before you die ; Som ething m ighty and sublim e Leave behind to conquer t im e ! Glorious ’tis to live for aye, W hen these form s have passed aw ay. —Goethe. Evolution Before Darwin. Professor Huxley, in an essay published in the “Life and Letters of Charles Darwin,” says: “Within the ranks of the biologists at that time [1851-8], I met nobody except Dr. Grant, of University College, who had a word to say on Evo lution, and his advocacy was not calculated to advance the cause. Outside these ranks, the only person known to me whose knowledge and capacity compelled respect, and who was, at the same time, a thorough-going evolutionist, was Mr. Herbert Spencer, whose ac quaintance I made, I think, in 1853, and then entered into the bonds of friendship, which, I am happy to think, has known no in terruption. Many and prolonged were the battles we fought on this topic. But even my friend’s dialectic skill and copiousness of apt illustration could not drive me from my agnostic position. I took my stand upon two grounds: firstly, that up to that time, the evidence in favor of transmutation was wholly insufficient; and, secondly, that no suggestion respecting the cause of the transmutation as sumed, was in any way adequate to explain the phenomena. Look ing back at the state of knowledge at that time, I really do not see that any other conclusion was justifiable.” It was Darwin’s “Origin of Species,” which converted Professor Huxlev •> to the doctrine of evolu- tion. It was natural that he should thiuk the evidence which had been adduced before he became ac quainted with this work, “in sufficient,” and, of course, a man of his intellectual integrity, could not give adhesion to any theory until he w*as satisfied of its truth. But while Professor Huxley’s statement, considered as an ex planation why he and other men of science did not accept evolution earlier is unobjectionable, it does scanty justice to those who were evolutionists before Darwin made NO. 25. his great contribution to the world’s Emerson (who was acquainted with ! edge, brilliant and fearless ex- knowledge. Lamarck’s writings) Robert Cham-1 ponder of scientific truth, and A thinker who reaches correct bers and many others, so believed, an admirable character, but this conclusions in regard to complex and their work and influence con fact with his tardy conversion to problems, under the disadvantage tributed to prepare the way for evolution, should not l»e construed of having a small amount of data Darwin’s success. to the discredit of those who ac upon which to base his inductions, Years before the “Origin of Spe cepted the doctrine upon evidence may thereby show a knowledge of cies” was published, Herbert Spen which he regarded as “insufficient.” the relations of things, an apprecia cer brought forward some of the The facts of embryology, of homol tion of the evidential value of known strongest evidences in support of ogy, of rudimentary parts, etc., facts, and a comprehensiveness of evolution. His facts are incontest known before the publication of the view, which denote a high order-of able,and his arguments are as valid “Origin of Species,” w’ere to some intellect. In the higher sense, the today as they were then. The force minds as strong indications as they man of science is he who has not of his reasoning, which failed at the are now of the transmutation of only powers of observation, but time to convince men like Huxlev, species; but to them had to be added ability to take the facts which are w’ho required more evidence, is now more facts, and some method sug- known, and to arrange them so as acknowledged by them, showing gested by which species could have to explain their meaning, by dis that Spencer’s earlier acceptance of been changed, before men like Hux covering the principles which un evolution was owing to his true in ley could declare in favor of evolu derlie them, as Newton explained terpretation of natural phenomena tion. This shows how’ important the cause of the fall of the apple/ and greater freedom from the influ and necessary was Darwin’s work w’hen he conceived that the same ence of traditional beliefs and au to the wider acceptance and pro force which brought the apple to thorities, wh’le their inability to gress of evolutionary thought, but the ground, also held the planets in accept the theory was due to their it does not in the least abate from their orbits. Mere observation and limitations, and not to their more the soundness of the general rea collection of facts would never lead correct judgment of what the evi soning of those who, from the facts to a great discovery; there must be dence should be to render the the known arrived at the conclusion reason, imagination, and insight, ory probable. which Professor Huxley reached, at power to understand the signific Spencer conceived evolution, not a later date. ance of groups of phenomena, and merely as a transmutation of The “rigorous met hods of science,” to think beyond what is actually species, but as a universal process which saves us from a priori specu known, as well as care and caution as presented in the system which lation and many unwarranted in in verifying what is conceived and he has since elaborately worked out ferences, may sometimes be applied held tentatively until it is fully es in his voluminous works. In in a way to delay the acceptance of tablished by larger knowledge. “ Principles of Psychology,” publish a truth seen by a great thinker long Imagination, as some one has said, ed before Darwin’s “Origin of before he can satisfv • others that the is to the scientist, what the lamp is Species” appeared, Spencer assumes objections are irrelevant or un on the cap of the miner, and it en the truth of organic evolution, and sound, and that the evidence justi ables him to see a little beyond the applies himself to the task of show fies his conclusions. Many scien position occupied. ing how the mind has been de tific men, and teachers of science in The work of Darwin in laborious veloped from low’ and simple to the colleges, wrere very confident ly collecting evidence of organic high and complex conditions. that Darwin’s conclusions were not evolution, and in showing the nat Whether we accept all his views or “justifiable” several years after ural selection w’as an important not, as evolutionists, we must Huxley accepted, and, like a brave factor in the transmutation of spe acknowledge the force of his argu knight, defended them against sci cies, was a stupendous work which j ments, based upon facts, for the entific and theological assailants. cannot be overestimated. The doctrine of evolution, in distinction Among observers and thinkers “Origin of Species” was an epoch- to the conception w hich prevailed there are always some who are in making book, which has revolution when he began writing on this advance of others in accepting or ized zoology, and led to radical and subject. Professor Huxley, after in anticipating newly announced wide-spread modifications and re his acceptance of evolution, repeated truths. It is doubtless well that constructions of thought in every many of these facts and arguments the majority, subject to the in- department of research. And for which before, though they had lluence of custom, authority and the work he did, Darwin has re convinced others, had failed to associations, change slowly; for ceived his full meed of praise; has convince him. Had he possessed thereby is maintained that stability been honored as no other man of that larger rage of vision, that which is the safeguard of society science in this age has for the work philosophic grasp, that synthetic and a condition of progress. But which his genius and labor accom power and that wonderful faculty it is desirable that we recognize the plished. But Darwin was not the of dealing with problems in the merit and service of those who are originator of the theory of evolu algebra and geometry of thought the first to understand and assimi tion, which itself has been evolved which distinguish Herbert Spencer late a new idea or to adopt and through many centuries. Facts among thinkers of this country, ’work for a great principle, for they which were a matter of knowledge Professor Huxley would probably are the pioneers of these changes in long before the “Origin of Species” have accepted evolutien prior to thought and method, which are appeared, had led many acute 1858, upon such evidence as was necessary to overcome the tendency thinkers to believe that species then accessible. I do not under to conformity, unformity and con came, not by special creation, but estimate Professor Huxley. He servation which steal like a mist over by gradual transmutation through was a man of scientific attainments a nation, resulting in “intellectual natural agencies. Goethe, St. Hi and literary accomplishments of a i peace at the price of intellectual laire, Lamarck, Erasmus Darwin, high order, a careful investigator' death.” B F. UNDERWOOD. Herbert Spencer, Ralph Wald in several departments of knowl-i * *