Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-11-02
RoR THE SPECTATOR.
SYMMES' THEORY.

buo cSNh teoF,iii W iSSNlfS ti1Sit % "a
falH6ie truths, how difficult il is to dis
card theory, or admit enforcement -
Philosophy has been more retarded in
many ages OF the world, (may not say
all y by the difficulties with which i, has
had TO contend, arising from pertina-
cious adherence TO received or prevalent
opinions, than il has from the rcant of
bold original, and inquiring genius.
In the early dawning of science we
6nd Gallileo, Descartcs, Newton,
and Columbus, towering above their
contemporaries, and spurping the esfa-
bAShed doctrines of the {. School-men,"
and laying the foundation Of that national
philosophy, whose benign rays now ilu-
inmate all the civilized world. What
was the fate Of some of those votares OF
genius, and benefactors of science And
what, | may ask, has been the extern, and
utility of their distinguished discoveries
and improveme n,s! During the career
of the immortal Gallileo, what had he to
encounter r? The bigoted fanaticism Of
the prejudiced secterian, whose philoso-
ply was based on the Aris,o.elean doc
trines. Twice was he summoned before
the inquisitorial tribunal a, Rome, to
answer for his conduct as hereucal
teacher! And though be was prosecuted
and s,igmalized as novice and hereto,
most Of his Improvements and discove-
ries have been positively proven by the
certainty ofma,hematical demonstration
What was the fate Of Columbus, the
discovcrer of the western hemisphere !?
Ridiculed, prosecuted, and condemned
by nearly all the literal of Europe /;
but notwithstanding all, the correctness
Of his visionary theory" was proven by
the addition of "new world" 10 the
Kingdom CT CASTLE and Leon.
7 Though such strong prejadices exist
ed against the beneiacto.s Of science, in
The dark ages of "error and snpers,i-
ton" it would seem, al first view, mat
ter Of astonishment, that similar prelu-
dicesshoIid prevail! at the present period,
when rational philosophy is pouring its
illuminating rays into the mind OF every
individual who solicits their light. But
on strict analysis Of those prejudices,
they are found to result from the same
original cause, to-wi': 1.-the force of edu-
cation. and the influence of prevailing
opinions. The doctrines of Aristotle had
prevailed for several centuries, and even
Sushicion oftheir fa!liblli,y, or erroneous
foundation, had scarcely been breathed,
and implicit credulity seemed to be their
homage. A
All who cultivated science, or rather
who were called learned, had been
taught 10 reverence them from the ear
Hest period of their study; and they
seemed almost to become interviewer
with the constitution Of man. They had
been laugh, to believe the earth, the CEN
tire Of creation, and the sun an inferior
planet, revolving around it as the moon,
and that ofcourse the centre earth) was
immovably fixed. While such theory
was universally adopted by the litera,i,
and never for a mo'nenl doubted, is it
at all surprizing that the philosophy OF
Gallileo, the defender, supporter, and
demonstrator Of the Copernican system,
should elicit the the indignation of the
prejudiced and the bigo'ed
When Columbus gave publicity to his
theory of western continent, Gan idea
which had, perhaps, never before entered
the mind OF an EuropeaE is il unreason-
to suppose that he would call forth the
prosecutions OF his contemporaries Not
outstanding il was the opinion OF sone
Of the ancirnts, that the earth was hol-
low, yet what has been the modern, aud
and generally received opinion relative
to the structure of,he globe Tha, it was
a solid mass, whose density was perhaps
greatest at the centre, from the superin-
cumbent pressureof the exterior strata,
or lamina. While such are tho doctrines
taught from the commencement of our
studies, and even the opinions so gene
rally adopted, and universally believed,
that every peasant is perfectly familiar
with them, who would not anticipate the
opposition which the theory Of Symmes
would naturally meet?
But discard prejudice, lay aside every
theoretical impression relative to the
structure Of the globe, and by the inIal-
lible test of mathematics you may de-
monstrate the possibility of Symmes'
theory; reasoning on the subject renders
it probable, and the divine economy of
Providence almost proves its certainty.
That Symmes' theory is as probable
TO as, as Columbus was to the Euro
pcans, we feel bold to affirm: and the
reasonings in favor ofthe former appear
equally as conclusive. Sir Isaac New
ton has proven, thatthe same laws which
regulate the motion Of projectiles, also
control the revolutions Of planets. Now