Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-05-02
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
BY RITCuIES & p!
SATURDAY MORNING. ArRIi. go, 1861.
PROGRESS OF INElpELlTY.

IN W
Tho nbilosnnhic student Of history cannot fail TO ooset'e'
:, co,,sn,,,ioo he propress of The Christian religion, Tue
,,vs,s. farms which The spirit of ~infdclity has assuh'ea u
different epocl., aud the various weapons "nicn u -
ployed to accomplish its purpose. From Gah'o =
skep,icism has been striving to overthrow tae au"o'in
the scriptures, now by open ASSAULT, ana ho" pitl.
anprosch: u, one time attacking Inc cha'ac''' = .on
with the weapons of wit, at another impeucni"s -,
,ir,v hv The testimony of history and Tue
,,,oa,o Tho various fashions OF inhdehty nave
sos,iru nc those of dress; and now the scohns 'Ar
~ vol,,i,s and now The metaphysical pytrhoh,sm -
=" ,o"a.vo-eacb the bubble of 90 hour, making no per-
nanent impression on mankind ana a''''s -. 1871, ~
- , If pnbelief more in harmony win Inc SP'" VI
the age. c,,o,,,ni,v have sought to
+. INN their service, and the disco'e'ieso' AS
-.-. a., of Geology have been successiVe'y e'hp'oIe'
I.".,.;, Tho authority Of Scripture. Man, LOOKING al "
-. ,,;,h ,mne,Eect vision, has presumptuous'T o''''a
;..,,,o, is secrets in accordance with MS own eap'ee'
,.t - !, nr,r,ssed 10 find in them some CONTRADICTION o' Tue
,.s,h;,,e of revelation. A more thorough 'eseS'en, INV"
o,sr and n clearer insight into the mysteries oi Nu'u'0'
,auo noyc failed 10 correct the results OF a 100 rash ahu iii,
nav. ~, ,,ion. and thus, 10 the end, the discoveries
r oo;,a,o hat confirmed the revelations OF scripture
.o,.onoov and Geology having thus deserted TO the enc
49, . O /, wero, the apostles of lnhdehty nave sohcieu "e
,d of another and a later science-he science VI '""'
law . they term il. By an analysis oil Inc physe"' 10
n Of man, they pretend 10 have disco'e.ea ~
rocss n original and permanent types, ana Dol ~ wv
fed forms Of essential unity. lheY dispute ''
~ 49, s,,,,,u,,I narrative of the origin of man, I"'; ss
another class Of skep,ics denied the "um u w '.p
,ccour, Of The creation OF the world. They alhrm IN '"'
...o,hii,v of the tesccn, OF The various races oil men from a
80. al, -dsrounciop the story of Adam and Eve as
,,;,ish and absnrd. and unworthy Of respect among 'h'e'''
gent minds. o.o,. roceo
Tho doc,rine Of the essential unity of the several fuees
of men ia no, now con,,overted for the hrst umci u !"
which was formerly vague and grounoiess u"oe"'' D"''
now The authority Of reason ana Hu'h'
In the TYPES of Mankind" a WofK just Ito" III .S
an elaborate attempt is made by a corps OIL sa'u"s y
throw the theory of the unity OF races. lhey d q y ~
derlale 10 establish any theory Of their own U ''ey as''
only in assaiiiug the prevalent doctrine. INC "l'''' NV
all able men, and it is but just TO conceoe mat '"e" JUN
d;.,,,vs rsch o,ipinal research, curious information, and
ingenious speculation. They have undoubtedly c'''lou.eo
many facts to The science Of Ethnography,b but they 10" 'al
IT,, ., s,Iv;no The nroblem they discuss. The book VIII
excite a sensation, and will be the occasion OF u =
,,oversv hut we do not think i will impair. must less
o,rov the authority of the scriptures, touching Inc queH'o"
of tho uni,y of races. Like the "Vestiges oil Sfea''o"' u
,rvnes of Mankind" will pcrpleS the "eaS' 'e"u'
the superficial, and provoke The "ra" u III" .O"
ba,ive polemic, until some man Of genu"e s'
and competent genius, exposes us u'u 1H
discredi,s its authority, Unless the champions OF
Christianity decline the challenge. and refuse TO meet inc a1-
versary with the weapons with which their lain Is as'a'ea'
they will, LOSE nothing by the controversy 10 which they are
invited. If, however, they, seek shelter behind the dogmas
of bigo,ry, and by discouroging freedom OF inquiry oe'ray
an apu,ehension of the revelations of eeience, they will sui
fer a. much BY their pusiIunimity, as by a positive repu'se'
Christianity has nothing to fear from genuine science n'S
upon the has,y generalization 8 and rash conclusions Oh '"Se
science that 1 rfdeIiiy takes its stand. Driven from '"S po'
si,ion into the open field of free discuss'on' u mus' Sn''""''