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
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