New-York tribune., 1874-09-07

are the products and consequences OF the
arrangements. must confess that this popular view
is to my mind the only which can be scientifically
adopted. We bound by everything we know OF the
operations thelnervous system to believe that when
certain molecular change is brought about In the
central part Of tho system that that change,
In some way utterly unknown to u.s. causes that state
of consciousness that term sensation IL is not 10
doubted that the impression excited by those motions
which give rise to sensation leaves In the brain moecu
lar changes which answer TO what Haler caiieu
resgia rerum," and which that great thinker. David
Hartley termed vibratiuncles" which We might term
sensigenous molecular, and which constitute the phys
cal foundation Of memory. Those same changes gave
rise naturally to conditions Of pleasure and pan and to
those emotions which in ourselves we call volition
have doubt that Is the relation between the physca
processes OF the animal and his mental processes i"
each case follows inevitably that these states OF con-
sciousness can have no Of relation OF causaon 10
the motions Of the muscles OF the body The Vohton OF
animals will be simply states OF emotion which preceuc
their actions The only conclusion then at "ch ."ero
seems any good ground for arriving Is tnat aias ac
machines, bu, that they are conscious machines.
THE SOULS OF ANIMALS NOT IN QUESTION.
rmgbt with propriety consider what have now said,
as the conclusion OF the observations which have 10
offer concerning animal automatism. 80 far as know
the problem which we have hitherto been discussing Is
an entirely open do not know tna' lnere ""'
reason the part OF person, whatever MS
may be, that prevent him, II he De SO hciheu ro
accepting the doctrine which have just now put
before you clearly. SO far as we know animals are
conscious automata. That doctrine Is perfectly con-
sistent with any view that may choose to take on
very curious subject neutrality-suspicious. animals pos
sess souls or not and whether II they possess SOULS
those souls are immortal not the doctrine TO which
have referred is not inconsistent Win tne per
fectly strict and literal adherence 10 the scrip
ture text concerning the beast that perishetn'
nor on the other hand, so far as KNOW,
does 1t prevent any from entertaining tho anna
BILE convictions ascribed by Pope to his untutored
savage, that when he passed to the realms OF the
blessed his faithful dog should bear him company. In
fact all these accessory questions to which have re-
ferred involve problems which cannot be discussed by
physical science such as they lie not within the
SCOPE OF physical science but within the scope OF
that great mother Of all science, philosophy Before
any direct answer can be given upon any OF these
questions, we must hear what philosophy has to say
for and against the views that may be held L have
now laid these facts before you. do not doubt that
that fate will befa me which has befalen better men,
and shall have to bear patience the reiterated asser
tion that doctrines such have put before you have
very evil tendencies. should not wonder II you were
told that my intention in bringing this subject before
you is 10 lead you apply the doctrine have stated to
man as well as brutes and it will then certainly be
triue is Fatalism, Materalism, and Atheism
LOGICAL CONSEQUENCES MUST TAKE CARE OF THEM
SELVES.
Now let me ask you TO listen to another product OF
that long experience to which 1 have referred. The
logical consequences very important; but In the
course of my experience have found that they we're
the scarecrows of fools and the beacons OF wise men,
Laughter and applause.l Logical consequences can
take care of themselves. The only question for any
man to ask this Is this true or is 1t faseP NO other
question can possibly be taken into considera-
ton until that one Is settled. lAppiausej oh-
doubtedly do hold that the view L have taken
of the relations between the physical ana
mental faculties OF brutes applies In its fulness ana en-
rety to man; and II 1t true that the logical conse-
ouences OF that belief land in all these terrible
things do not hesitate in allowing myself TO De 80
landed 1 should conceive that II refused shou'd
have done the greatest and most abomnabe violence to
everything which is deepest IN my moral nature. Zap
plausel But now beg leave to say that, In my con-
yicon there is no such logical connection as is pre-
tended between the doctrine L accept and the
consequences which people profess to draw from
l.. lCheers.] Many years ago had OCCASION IN
dealing with tho philosophy Of Descartes, and
some other matters my conviction pretty fully
ON those subjects and although know by experience
how futie IL is to endeavor to escape from those nick
names which many people mistake for argument
aughter yet II those who care TO investigate THESE
matters In spirit OF candor and justice VIII look INTO
those writings mine, they will see my reasons for not
IMAGINING that such conclusions can be drawn from
sueh premises To those who do not look into these
matters with candor and with desire to know the
truth have nothing whatever to except to warn
them ON their own behalf what they do for assuredy
IT, for preaching such doctrine as L nave
preached to you tonight, am cited before the bar
of public opinion, shall not stand there alone On
nv one hand shall have. among theologians, st. Angus
tine, John Calvin, and o man whose name should DO
well known to the Presbyterans of Ulster-Jonathan
Edwards-unless indeed 1t be the fashion to neglect
the study of the great masters OF divinity, as many
other great studies are neglected nowadays. lCheersI
should have upon other hand. among the philoso-
phers Leibnitz; should have Pere Malebranche who
saw all things in God; should have David Hartley,
the theologian as well philosophers should have
Charles Bonnet. the eminent Naturalist ana one
of the most Jealous defenders Christianity has ever
had 1 think 1 should have. within easy reach
az any rate, John Locke. Certainly the school OF
Descartes would be there il not their master and am
inclined TO think in due justice. ctaton%oud have TO
be served upon Emmanuel Kant himself. lLaughter.I
In such society may be better to be prisoner than
udge; but would ask those who are likely to be inhu
enced by din and camor which are raised about these
questions whether they likely to be right In
assum,np that those great men have mentioned-the
fathers OF the Church and the fathers Of philosophy
knew what they were about that the pigmies who
raise this din know better than they did what they
meant loud cheers 1t is not necessary for any man
to occupy himself with problems Of this kind unless he
so choose Life full enough filled amply to the brim,
by the performance OF its ordinary dutes but let me
warn you let me beg you to believe that II man elect
to give judgment upon these great questions still
more II he hmselfthe responsibility OF attach
ing praise or blame to his fellow men for the judg
ments which they may venture to express say that
unless he would commit q sin more greyous than most
Of the breaches OF the Decaloguc let him avoid lazy
reliance upon information that is gathered by preu
dice and Uttered through passion Let him go to these
great sources that open him to every one and
TO no man more open than to an Englishmau; let him
90 back to the facts OF nature and to the thoughts Of