The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-01-03
For the Palladium.

Richmond Scientific association.
can not do better in preparing
a report of the last meeting of the
above association held in Friends
Academy, than by quoting the Ian
guage of the late Prof. Agassiz in
relation to the value of scientific
knowledge: "The time has come
when scientific truth must cease to
be the property of the few, when
it must be woven into the life of
the world; for we have reached the
point when the results of science
touch the very problem Of existence,
and all men listen for the solving of
that mystery
The last two lectures of the as
ISOLATION course-the former on
Spectrum Analysis" by Prof. Jack
son, the latter on the "Origin and
Descent of Man. by DIR. Baer-
happily Illustrate the opinion of
Agassiz as to the growing popular
taste for scientific truth. One Of
the interesting questions of the day
! is whether Moses was right, Or has
Mr.. Darwin eclipsed the Hebrew
philosopher, as to the true origin Of
man? One thing is true: one or
the other Of these distinguished
men must some day go to the wall.
For, as Prof. Agassiz says, "the re
suits of science touch the very
problem of existence" and sooner
or later we shall all know whether
the book of Genesis is the true one,
or whether Mr.. Darwin has over
Swallowed it with q new and better
revelation. There was good deal
of latent skepticism concerning the
Mosaic account of creation before
Mr.. Darwin ever published his re-
markable book; and it seems to be
full -blown in some unexpected quar-
ters at the present time; the fresh
impulse, no doubt, of Mr.. Darwin's
popular theory of evolution having
caused it to overflow it's narrow
limits.
It was apparent that DR.. Baer did
not regard the teachings of Oar
winism in o very favorable light;
but it was also apparent that he
did not dare to combat them with
anything more vigorous than blow
from the shoulder of concentra-
ted circumstantial evidence; and it
must be conceded with Henry Da-
vid Thoreau, that ''some circum-
stantial evidence is very strong, as
when you find a trout in the milk. I"
In another point of view the lecture
was not prepared after the manner
of scientific methods. Perhaps the
DR.. did not intend it should. be
what its name implied, scientific
address. It was manifest, however,
that those methods had less to do
with the positions assumed OF
proved than was real. It may be
by some urged that the question Of
the origin of species does not adj
NIT of absolute scientific reasoning;
assuming, of course, that it's print.
tive elements are supernatural, and,
: therefore, beyond our ken. Yet
such assumption is not unscholarly
nor void by any means; it does
not like to be exposed TO the search
ing analysis Of science in these lat
8 ter days. Altogether, the lecture
y was an able, scholarly exposition o,
the groundwork of a practical op
e position to Darwinism.
At the risk Of being considered
tedious, I wish to examine Prof
Agassizs argument in support Of
the doctrine of a special creation O.
!. species, which has been introduced
0 by some as very convincing, which
4 is as follows: Demonstrated varie
: ties do not explain the origin O
o species, except by showing that thu
. intelligent will of man can produce
effects which physical causes hav,
= never been known to produce" I
# is plain to be seen that this state
It ment proves too much; for the rea
e son that domestication is natura
o and not an unnatural experiment
l. In a state of nature varieties exis
also among plants and animals, ant
how have they been produceds is
q very natural question to ask.
e According to the language jus
g quoted, domesticated varieties ma,
It explain the origin of domesticatet
b species; but, according to the ne
9 cation of Agassiz, natural varieties
: may not explain the origin of ma
: tural species. That kind of logi,
It defeats the end and objects of law
= namely: its universa1itv Prot