The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-02-06
DARWINISM.
Forthe InlellIpenrer

Forthe Inlelllgencer.
It Is tho purpose OF the writer OF this,
in q few brief papers, at suitable intervals,
10 consider the subject which appears at
the bead Of this article. 1t will be biz
endeavor TO avoid unfairness and tedious.
ness. The prominence which the subject
has assumed In the discussions oil the day,
and the important consequences connect.
ed with It, are his incentive 10 this pres.
entAtlOn OF it. r.
WHAT IS DARwLNIsM =?
Many Of the ideas which arc current 10
regard 10 1t are exceedingly crude and
vague. And this again has affected the
reception with which il meets at the
hands Of different persons. Some have
hastily embraced it, who, il they had lul
ly comprehended It's nature would at
least have hesitated before they sub
sCribed themselves amongst its adherenls
To some II has been sort Of bete aOir
concerning which they have been dis
pOsed 10 manifest q foolish alarm.
they only understood what II Is thcJ
would not be afraid 10 march up to 1t and
boldly examine It. Many an object seer
In the darkness Of a fog or Of the approach
Ing night has been taken for a terrible
monster. When confronted 1t may BE
nothing very formidable.
.., . EvoLUTIoNIsM.
Darwinisn Is q form OF what In modern
scientific and theological parlance is called
eVolutlonism. The following quotation
from a living author probably would be
accepted by the parties rSnged on either
side Of these questions, as substantially q
correct statement ofsthe doctrine 10 its
widest form "The doctrine Of Evolution
known also as the Law Scheme, and the
Development Hypothesis, in It's ripes,
form, ia that all things we perceive, in
Guiding what are called spiritual phe'
nomena, have come from the simplest be-
ginnings, solely by means Of such forces
and laws as belong 10 matter. suppose
all matter expanded into one great cloud
OF atoms. Then these atoms, 6y virtue d
properties Inherent in Themselves, would, in
course Of time, come together into worlds
into astronomic systems, into the veget-
able and animal Kingdoms, and even into
that great spiritual realm which is the
chief wonder and glory Of Mature"
The above Is, q statement Of the doc
trine Of evolutionism in general, Bnt as
applied to the different fields 1t has taken
three principal forms. The general
theory q a stem which separates into
these as its branches. The first Is The
Rt6Ular Hgp0tkesiS. II deals with Thu
making Of worlds. According 10 1t, The
condition of the universe at the rnosl
remote time In the past to which science
can penetrate was that OF matter In high
y attenuated and widely dlffused state
II Is often spoken. Of as StAr.ddst or fire.
mist, This matter had In It all the forces
and properties Which now belong to It
and, under their operation alone and il
accordance with them, the sun and
moon and stars were evolved, AMI
took their places in the order q
Tue heavens, The SECOND form o.
eYolnuonism Is Spontaneous Generation
II deals with the origin 81 lie. Accord
ing 70 y, lilo, instead Of being something
which is introduced db extra even Al its
ntst appearance in the world, Is the resull
Of the peculiar arrangement Of the atoms
Of water, Huxley, Tor example, teaches
that 1.-THE matter Of lie Is composed q
ordinary matter, differing from Il only In
tue mAnnsfiin which lis atoms arc aesre
gated" The third form which eyoIu-
uonism assumes Is Daneinism, as Il i,
properly called, or the tranSmutdton d
psas II deals with plants and animals
~ undertakes 70 show that all plants and
animals, including man, came bv the I on
GRAFTON alone Of certain natural Laws y
t MoH onS ~ lew species, which were in
SsNStst;on ere creation, orby spontaneous
gen Va.a .S into the world at q period sc
r sGaoIe; Shas We cannot with any distIpct.
"toFths aaks Of Clearnsss II has seeIaet
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