Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-06-12
Whole No. 29O6

state Of perfect adaptation to the con-
Ldition of life.
But-and this proof is Darwin's
especial merit-UdridtiOn take place
in natural selection, chiefly in con-
sequence OF geological events. mas
much as these produce q change in
/ the conditions of life. Other climatic
conditions, other enemies, other sur
roundings, etc., demand different
faculties and qualities this changes
the line of natural selection, because
the struggle for existence between
the individual varieties has become
an individual one. But even with
out such geological events, constant
changes take place in the line of nat
ural selection in consequence of the
! powers Of expansion inherent in all
species OF animalsand plants. Aided
by their locomotive organs, carried
by air or water currents, or trans
I ported by other beings, daily and
hourly hundreds and thousands of
individuals, in q partly mature, partly
germtnal condition, leave their native
soil, to the existing influences Of
which they are peculiarly adapted,
and enter as colonists districts of the
I
ences, different nourishment. differ
ent eoneurrents, await them. Now
begins a transforming prt cess Of in
exOrable severity, which produces n
more or less rapid distinction between
the emigrants and their kindred in
the old home, according to the degree
of Elasticity of tbs species and to the
amount Of difference in the condi-
tiObs of life. This latter process must
lead with mathematical certainty TO
constant increase of the number OF
species. ..,-......- ...'-.
This is the most essential principle
Of Darvin's theory. Further eonelu-
slons, as for instance, the so much
controverted assertiCn n of the descent
of man from apes, are necessary con-
sequences Of the application of the
theory to given case.
How is it now with the objeciOns2
These can be. briefly stated. The
assertion is made that only domestic
animals and plants are capable Of
variation, not the wild species of ami
mails and plants likewise that their
variations had never been proved.
This assertion deserves hardly a Sc
nous estimation. 1t is historically
proved, that certain cultivated spe-
cies have been wild and are found at
present IN the same wild state. Con-
sequently these wild species have
been varied.
Another objection is, that variations
produced by man would not be last
ing: left to nature a reversion of the
tame to the wild species would take
place. The fact IS correct, but the
conclusion Is false. What the fact
proves is: () that the aims Of natural
selection differ greatly from those of
artificial selection by man, which will
make a difference in their produce
tions; (2) that If the training force OF
nature is strong enough to transform
in q short time a tame animal into
wild one, corresponding with her
aim, this fact speaks only for the
power Of nature, not against it.
A third party TO Darwin's theory
grants variations, but allows them
only certain limits. This objection
has no weight, because some are re-
ferring to the limits of species, others
to those of genera, still Others to those
OF orders. The one as well as the
other is suppositiOn. which Is Op-
posed by the fact of variability, and
Lnat Is the main point LOT bnlS EeaSOn .
With the general admission Of trans
mutability, new, unbOunded, truly
scientific, observing and experiment.
ing sphere of Investigation Is opened
to specific research and this is
another immeasurably important fea-
Jure Of the DarwiSian theory, In addi-
ton to those above mentioned. The
value of scientific theory does not
depend on the absolute correctness OF
all its points, but upon its opening
new spheres 70 progressive knowl-
edge; and Darwin's theory is in this
respect epOch-making, perhaps more
so than any discovery in science, be-
cause the field Of organic life is the
most extensive Of all fields Of in
vestigation, and presents the loftiest
objects of human research. So long
as science exists viii Darwin's name
be one of the most honored.