The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-05-03


We give place 10 the foregoing article
from Prof Ryan, as We have heretofore 10
some others. partly that the public may get
. as accurate an idea as possible Of what his
theory is, and partly to afford an opportu-
nifty To those who choose TO test tie cor
RICHNESS of the theory by the actual result.
But we feel bound in conscience, to enter
our disclaimer against publishing these
predictions aud explanations as being mat
tiers Of general or partial belief with US.
We have long been an unheliever in the SCI
ence Of making soap iii the new Of tho
moon. or planting onions. or any other
crop, at any special age OF the moon, or di-
vinlng by the upward or downward posi-
ton OF its horns whether the next month
VIII be wet or dry. or believing that eclipses
cause cold weather. All these and similar
notions being unsupported 10y any evidence,
we regard as so many supersttlOns, ut
tered originally by some person who tried
be wise about that concerning which he
neither knew nor could know anything,
and handed down from age TO age. repeat
ed Boy one generation a. facts, and received
by the next with undoubting credulity.
It still remains true, however that the
weather has very much 10 do with human
affairs. and 4 knowledge Of its coming
changes, if possible, would be very dssira-
bic. What vast amount Of the products
Of human labor both on the ocean and on
the land, which are now destroyed, might
be saved for humanity by an exact fore
knowledge Of the weather. How great
the amount of human suffering that might
be prevented,
Professor Ryan is right. therefore, ia dl-
recting bis attention TO SO important q
subject But according to our view, he
has begun his Investigation at the wrong
end Of the chain The only rational mode
Of making discoveries in physical science,
has been by collating together a great mum
Der OF particular matters OF fact, and then I
deducing from them general law by which /
they, and all others of their class are gov
erned There is reason 10 believe that all /
the forces of nature, in their minutest ac- /
ton. are regulated by laws as invariable /
and As exact "a those which govern the 4
motions Of the planets. The weather, al /
though often the most changeable Of all 4
things. is no exception to this rule. None /
IF these changes however great or sudden, /
come by chance, but if we knew the laws .
By which the weather is regulated. we F.
could predict them as we can an eclipse.
thousand years before they take place
These laws, we think, cannot be discov-
sred or unravelled by the invention Of any
heory, however Ingenious or profound.
General laws. We believe. are not discov-
red 10y framing theory first. Such Il
heory unsupported 10y all the facts in the
'ase. amounts only to guess; and the
chances are million 10 one that the the
lIy viii not be true; that is. that il will not
conform TO the facts which are To be &C
,0unted Tor and explained under the the
,ry.
While. therefore We agree with Professor
Ryan rs 20 the importance OF the subject.
.nd accord that measure Of respect to him
which may be due 10 all efforts for advanc-
NJ the boundaries of human knowledge.
ve cannot agree that the weather to-day is
dependent IN the least on the alledged facts
hat the sun and moon were made on
OF on any incidents Of Noah's
-oyage in the ark, or on any conjunction
II the planets.