Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-06-30

Urine OF the descent Of man from monkeys |
and apes is shocking enough. The instinct |
which rejects It is founded in the very con
stitution of the soul itself. An revolutions
are abhenent to mankind until a conviction
OF their necessity Is produced. But the age
OF science is begun; that of unquestioning
faith is passing away. FearlessIy do men
interrogate nature now, and
boldly do they penetrate her Sc
crets, resolved to follow the Undue
tons they indicate, no matter what the con-
illusions involved. OF course theological
ideas must be modified occasionally, to suit
the changing forms of belief about the orr
gin Of our race, its divisions and destiny
upon The earth. Let no man be alarmed.
The advancement of knowledge has never
yet been hurt to mankind. Scientific
questions must be scientifically determined,
and none can escape the necessity of exam
lining the proofs upon which new dogmas
of opinio nrest. Confusion besets all men
upon sudden emergence from darkness in
to light, and yet aprolonged and steady gaze
always rectifes the confusion. Now it
must be confessed that Mr.. Darwin has
given a new point of departure to the sci
entife inquiries Of the age. The foremost
minds Of the world are row guiding their
researches by the light of his theories.
Some positive addition to the sum of valu-
bic discoveries in the strange, eyentful his
tory of man, must be expected to result.
For of all men living, Mr.. Darwin
seems to be the best fitted to mves-
tigate the origin of the species, and the
whole subject of life in connection with
the past changes of the globe. And
it is significant that other men are
now adopting his views and abandoning the
older ones as untenable, who have power
fully contributed to give to geology its pres
emit shape and development. They are en-
bodied in new edition of an authoritative
textbook on Comparative Anatomy
issued this year in Germany, wherein the
author speaks of the ''theory Of descent
with modification, though natural selection"
as constituting the most important era
in comparative anatomy that has
hitherto occurred; and regards comparative
anatomy itself as one of the touch-stones
of its truth. Considering, he says, that
the number of those who have mastered
the theory, and its real meanings and
bearings is, though at present small, yet
constantly increasing, and thst too by ac-
cessions from the ranks Of its former OPP
ponents, he feels justified in looking for the
accomplishment of an suspicious revolu-
ton by its means. Unquestionably Mr..
Darwin has evinced a patience in accumu-
lating and skill in using large masses OF
facts of the most varied kind, wide and
accurate physiological knowledge-an
acuteness in devising and skill in carrying
out experiments, together with an admir-
able style of composition, clear, persuasive
and judicial, which eminently fitted him
for the undertaking he has made. In the
future siftings of the discussion, the error
Of his doctrines viii be safely eliminated,
while some new generalization OF facts will
remain to form a starting point for the
philosophers and Swans of tie period it in
augurates.
In reading this work, whatever conclu-
sion we may arrive at as to the ingenious
theories of the author, no one can deny the
ability, learning, varied research and acu-
men with which the whole circle of natu-
raj history is ransacked for facts and their
bearing upon the theories propounded are
brought into view, If the resder is not
convinced, he will be entertained with
wonderful accumulation Of facts presented
in new lights and with new bearing.
Much of his discussion of sexual relation is
striking and exceedingly original. That
general discussion Of the modes of pleasing
and courtship between the sexes should
have some remote application to the fash
ions of the day might or might not happen.
We submit the following extract as suggest
i've of the origin of the steatopygous fashion
of the present day:
alt is well known that with many Hot
tentOt women the posterior part Of the body
projects in a wonderful manner; they are
steatopyguos; and Sir Andrew Smith is
certain that this popularity is greatly adj
mired by the men. He once saw woman
who was considered beauty, and she was
so iumensly developed behind, that when
seated on the level ground she could not
rise, and had to push herself along until she
came to a slope. Some of the women in
various negro tribes are similarly character
lied; and, according 10 Burton, the Somel
men aIe said to choose their wives by rang
ing them in line, and picking her out who
projects the farthest teTgO. Nothing can
be more hateful to negro than the oppo-
site form. "-Vol. 2, PIP. 329-38O.
As we said before, let no one be alarmed.
Our views of creation must be readjusted
from time to time in the light of advancing
science. In whatever way it has pleased
the Almighty to generate man, it is impos-
sible be should cease to feel that his chief
end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.
For it is not more evident that humanity
exists, than that religion is its noblest at
tribute. We must bring science, there
fore, to interpret the Bible, and not the
Bible to interpret science.
A .4AND JURY in Hampstead county,
Arkansas, eight of whom were negroes, re-
Gently indicted several of the Clayton office
holders of that county and Grant men, for
official frauds of the most extensive charac-