The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-03-30
Thoughts on Life and Death.
A REVIEW OF ALMo ANXIOUS.
BY PHILo SOPHIA.

In the Spirit Of Democracy of. Feb.
7th appeared an article upon the above
named subject; and upon it I, now, beg
leave to make few remarks.
The design of the writer seems to be
to establish this proposition: "The hu-
man body, lives, moves, aud has its be-
ing, entirely independent Of any spiritual
influence, being formed, regulated, and
finally destroyed alone by chemical &C.
ton"
1t is not q little. amusing to see with
what ease he upsets the theories of the
ancients. The Pythagorean theory, he
declares to be false, for the very plausi-
BILE reason that it is not true. The Epi-
curean theory is fallacious, because it
could arise only from casual mind
These are certainly weighty arguments.
aud shall assu-edly rot attempt to over
throw them. But in pro.essedly physi-
cal and metaphysical discussion, it would
DO well to give q little proof, at least
4 After all, however, this has nothing to
do with the subject; "Life and Death" 4"
Let the Metempsychosis Of Pgthagoras;
or the sensual belief of the Epicureans be
true or. false, aud it does not, in the
least, effect the theory Of life. And un-
less the object be. to institute new the
ory, in regard 20 the Immortality of the
SOUL" these opinions have nothing to do
with our subject E5fJ7ni y iisaA 3
The theory of the Christian, that "The
. Immortal spirit is the vivifying principle, !"
is not so easily disposed Of; and in order
! to set it aside, he brings in his chemical
: : theory. .5syl seH On,
! That the growth Of the body, the re.
e moval Of wo n out matter. the produc-
It ton Of animal heat, are all consequent
j, upon chemical action, no one .conversant
= with the facts will attempt to deny. Blu,
Il behind this chemical action there must
I be aspower that rules it,. There il
in nothing in the laws Of matter that viii
~ compel the human form to take the shap,
which it does. There is no law Of mattel
3 that causes the hearts contractions ant
i'd dilations. The laws of matter do no
to compel any Of the z organs to- perform
their functions. Indeed in many case
ia they perform them in direct opposition t
o those laws The circulation Of the bloo
OF for instance is carried onin opposition t
- the laws of gravitation. According I
"A the laws Of chemical combination, all OF
II. ganized matter has 8 tendency to speed
Ir- ly decay. Yet we see the animal bod
". resisting this tendency, while dead mat
w w ter quickly returns to its original element.
- We must then look to some higher rul
al ing power, than these Of matter. W
ch recognize in matter four forces: attrdctio
as of cohesion; gravisution; chemical c69snit.
~ and repulsion. All these forces are sui
ar servient to organization, under the /,
I'd, auence Of this higher power; they are b'
to the tools with which the architect Of th
Il earthly tabernacle sees fit to work.
~ na They can Icy no claim to being the worl
he men themselves. They are incapable
aat doing the work. .-...a 80 : "a" "a, 80 -.
RE m10ur ,authori refers nsy to the heart /
10, the great sEeseryoira OF mill dam of life
~ ~ This is q pretty good figure. sILet rs fe
;n5 low it out and see where it leads. 81
nv. the water Of the mill-dam," says he, 3"v
put end the power which drives the mill;
70 in the heart is centralized the pow
-, - which moves the great machinery Of t
an. ant human system. :" The power which driv
red the min, and which we collect in tile mi
gle dam, Is the force Of gravitation. Fl
ing. force tending to bring the water near
q the center of the earth, supplies the m
hat hat tive power; the water, of ITSELF being pe
leir fectly passive; having no power to mos
iz.s Tor to resist motion. Should we Of
nd sWhat is this grayity?.H. 3 our philosop
IS. is dumb It, goesano further. This
~ the end of our cold distractions. B
ris- the real student Of nature hesitates not
pis, refer It to the direct agency Of &c
the whom be ,adoringly ackpawiedges.. 10 3
'e' Let us inrthe same way trace out t
Iol- phenomens oflifs. edThe blood that co
in yesys the nasterisl Of which the body
ng, made. to the yarious points ct which II
'eey needed; and carries off the particles q q
IS are worn outs withIuse has no power
lge fitssif to govern its metionss OF determi
oc- their continuance. 1sW When it. ccnveys Z
th' as same kind of material to all parts Of Y
system, what Poyer sAn these bs IN = Z
,,sv blood, to determiae q tAattat one plae