New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-25
THEDARWINIAN DISCUSSION.

PROPAGATION BETWEEN ORGANIC AND 1Nok-
GANIC FORMs-No SUCH THING AS DESCENT OK
PARENTAGE IN ANY oAsE-rHE NEW THEORY AS
SAFE REFUGE FROM DARwNIsM.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: / have just read with great interest
the learned and instructive letter of the renowned Chan
ceIlor OF the University OF Syracuse "a. wincheD on
The Geneaogy of Ships" in THE TRIBUNE OF May To-
The perception OF the analoges existent between
vehicles for carrying through tine
water, known under the generic name OF vessels h"u
those OF the animal forms designated horses Equ'd@
&C., such might be expected from the author OIL inc
scmtating Sketches OF Creation"
With what interest and pleasure have perused the
article may be Inferred from the fact that views when
have cherished for years have been taken as the cardinal
basis of the excellent Chanceor's argument This vie"
common 10 us s that there is distinction between
inorganic and organic objects such az IL commonly
claimed that that inorganic objects have no power
perpetuatng their kind while organic ones have sueh
ia the view hold common, and for giviug,e1pres-
sion to which have been frequently nsuited by such
acts on the part Of my hearers tapping their ore-
heads dotc grimaces at each other and such excIana
harmless" etc, which fools In the MAJORITY
apply those from whom they differ But the Chanee-
lor will sympathIze withsme, iand fello~-fee
ing makes one wondrous kind am indeed rejoced 10
his bold advocacy OF theory which have for 50
long a time entertained and promulgated.
But do not misunderstood me. know that many IN
such a case would think that their theory had been
stolen and then paraded original. I am, however
perfectly ready credit it original with the Chan
cellor since / have not published it myself and as
theories which have been enuncated by great men are
often called after he hereby hail the Chancellor
as the founder Of a great school which WILL with adj
vancng years, spread his name and in "WlncheIllsm
transmit the remotest times. Thus far then Win
humble steps I follow the renowned Chancellor But
now I must leave him, for while he recognizing the
analogy ships horses etc. contends that
they the descendants with modification, or common
ancestors T. cognzlng the analogy, claim there
thing descent, but that it is pure fiction
! Of the imagination
thus differ from him and deeply regret that or
thodOx leader should lend himself TO such sanction OF
the perncious doctrines of evolution which seem now TO
be adopted by almost every so-called scientific man OF
the day. He has however done good service, and
that Is, by refictlo dd abstrdam, shown the alb
surdity the idea similarity Of form IT, c. homo
logical identify is criterion of the common origin OF
forms that alike. For, Notwithstanding his labored
argument have every 10 believe that vessels
made such aud that they put together piece
by piece cordially admit that have not any in
the process Of being put together through all its pro-
cesses; but have too many vessels IN transition
state and have received the testimony OF too many who
assisted putting them together 10 doubt that the
vessels really the result Of work by piecemea and
the aggregation OF indivd elements predestlned for
1
any one who has vessels generated from others,
and the learned Chanceors argument knew
who believed in such generation In view Of the
evidence referred then, unwilling to accept the
Chancellors opinion; but nevertheless recognize fully
relevancy Of his argument and Will, with your per
mission apply IL.
Tue detestable tribe Of Darwnists Il cannot contem-
plate patence pretend that all forms the
derivatives with modification. from preceding
adduce in evidence the coneident facts OF enbry
ology or the development OF the individual palROn-
ology or the development OF the series the .uexpca
bty otherwise or rutimcntary structures and numer
other facts which they pretend entirely consist
ent with their theory with other and Hfurther
support thereof. they urge o. that such forms have
been TO be created but that they are bora or
others ike themselves. and yet t that there between
themselves and their pretended parents a difference
them to DO recognized individuals and
which is, in certain very considerable nay that
the difference is great that II the origin
were known the pseudo descendant would be called
a species distinct from the pseudo parent; and that.
even in the OF such migratory anmlls as birds the
differences representative forms geographically
widely separated great a. TO have caused them to
be separated a species until intermediate forms
obtained from intermediate places IT, then. we ad-
mited such assumptions, should really be logically
compelled 10 admit the derivation with more or less
mod ncaton OF all forms from preGxisten ones; for the
barriers IN single being surrendered, the reduc
ton OF all the rest would be simply question Of time.
This is practically admitted by Chancellor Wnchel IN
his argument and therefore while admit the correct
ness of his analocles 1 oppose his assumptions
Foutaace. Ny IN isis is that tlere Is such thing
stent possible genetic relation or the relation or
child to parent, 81: / fully aware that popular
opinion is against this view, and that Chancellor Win
chel has doubtless reasoned from the popular assump
ton am aware too that 1t is pretended that every
form Matched from egg and undersoes a series Of
oha in OF IN
dluon OF a fuy-deyelopei being am still further
aware that 1t pretended that such series OF changes
are TO extent paralleled by the succession in
geological time OF the types TO which they respectively
belong But all this ls for me OF no account. Cnan-
cellOr Wncnell repeat, has demonstrated the Ike
nature OF similarity or type and similarity from an
do not 70 express own sentiments 10 the
same effect 1 only decline 10 admit with hun that
either steamers ships &C. are the Descendants from
other vessels with modification or that animals are the
descendants of other animals with modification. -.
they exist and That every hypothesis That the one or
the GnF D wa d a % ns s induce ne
to believe otherwise The TACT mat persons
ter is no evidence; these titles simply in
accordance with plan or law established IN the begin
nng ana Chancellor Wnche would be just as Well las
ufed in cOntending small 3ei must be the
young OF large Others don't far as he
a any 10 or FD must he the Young Of arse one
Ia am satisfied that there Is no truth whatever IN
tne-wldespread idea that because something - IKE
another 1t is descended from tue other, ana whatever
persons mas say-CadnceOr minclUii, a0ctOYs. mOth-
crs aud Others-I won't believe, ana shall msiatan 10
my diving day that IL Is vulgar error; and tb natural
aud inevitable result OF the belief IN
Darwinism and its attendant train OF absurdties In
deed. ia admitted that anything is born IN
of nature lsneh Is the euphomstic expires
SION from somethlnS else-lAd That something else
evidently different from the o-ner-I do NJ
where yOi are going 20 stop. 10 Is. l
thu scaM1aous that beaefs should be- 40 prava-
lent aud una dils 10 Restrain my feelings within
temperate limits / think VI II. How much more
dicult restrain ones self when "A divine like
Paey the truth of such view tDat IT, the re-
OF child ana paren aud argues that lt Ii the EVIL
dence OF greater power God than creation OF each
individual am shocked at such mpicty. and. lest