Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-03-04

previous CONGRESSES.
THE DESCENT OF MAN; and in Relation to
Sex. By Charles Darwin, NJ. A., F. r. S etc
With Illustrations. In two volumes. Vol. /.
New York: D. Appleton Co publishers. Mr..
Darwin states the purpose of this work as fol-
lows; First, TO consider whether man, like
every other species, is descended from some pre-
existing form; second, the manner of his de-
velopment; and, third, the value of the differ
ences between the so-called races of man." In
his work on the origin of species, he made no
application of his theory to the human race;
but it was planithat it must be SO applied, if he
would preserve logical consistency. He divides
this volume into two parts, the first being en-
tried "The Descent OF Origin of Man" and the
second, Sexual Selection" which means
something in addition to what he understands
by Natural Selection" In another volume he
will discuss "the expression of the various emo
tons by man and the low n animals"
No one who desires to understand the scientific
and speculative Tendencies of the time, can afford
to be ignorant of Mr.. DArwin's books They are
important aside from his hypothesis. They have
established a wide and powerful influence
among men Of science, especially in England
and Germany; and, TO neglect them is TO
neglect what is necessary to accurate intelli.
gene, in regard to q widespread movement of
thought which is, just more alive, more active,
and more revolutionary so far as concerns ra-
dition, than any other that challenges attention.
Meanwhile, his works have scientific value which
can appreciated without acce pting his peculiar
speculations. In the particular departments of
sci nee to which he has been most devoted, he
has shown himself an untiring and thoughtful
observer, unequalled in either his wonderful ac-
cumuaton of facts or his skill in using them
10 fact thorough study of his works furnishes
the best qualification for criticisng his theories.
His doctrine of development or transmuta-
non Is mere hypothesis. Nothing more than
this is claimed for it, even by his most ardent
admirers. MIR. Huxley, for instance, points ont
that II is not yet anything more. He admits
mat 1t is not proved theory" and cannot
yet step out Of the ranks of hypothesis into
those OF proved theories" He accepts it "pro-
Vlslonally," because it is the most promising
theory he can find. 1t lacks scientific demon
stratlon. But, sit is permissible TO expect": .
therefore he hopes scientific basis will be found
for IT. Huxiey's condition of mind in regard
70 the matter is described by himself as follows
ITO say, in the admitted absence of evidence.
that ! have any belief as to the mode in which
the existing forms of life have originated, would
be using words in wrong sense" That is tc
say, he has no belief, in this matter; he has
nothing more than hypothetical assumption
which seems to him more reasonable than any
other he can see. He regards only cwo hypoth
eses claiming a scientific basis, as possible; thai
OF Mr.. Darwin, which still needs to be proved,
and that OF special creation, which supposes the
creating agency TO act in harmony with the or
der of nature. 1t seems to us that his Difficult.
ties with the latter theory are all produced by
his endeavor to bring the creating agency itself
within the scope of scientific investigation.
WINE he does not deny the supernatural, he
docs not sufficiently admit that it is super.
natural.
IL Is very significant, and seems TO us conclu.
Dive against men, that Mr. Darwin and his sup
porters are Obliged to admit special creation so
far as relates TO the first forms of life from
which, as they say, all subsequent forms wer,
developed. This admission is unavoidable
FIRST, because they admit as a settled doctrine q
science, fully demonstrated, that living form
can not be derived from inorganic nature; and
second, because geology teaches that this worl
and all it contains had beginning. The frs
forms of life were not derived from inorgani
nature, and they had not existed from eternity
therefore they must have been created; no otbe
conclusion is possible. Therefore Mr.. Darwi
begins his assumed operations of development
with living forms that were specially createt
Hs says, in his "odgin of Species" 81 beliey
IN II animals have descended from, at most, onl
four or FIVE progenitors, and plants from a
equd or lesser number He sees that tbes
n1s. lorms were created; therefore, the fact G
creation Is established, to this extent. VIII,
mel Is 1t unreasonable to believe that ever
neS species and order OF living creatures wa