The New York herald., 1874-11-24
scisntias Dust 1. Uavsisnsihs Eyes

scientiAs Dust In Unvsisntihe Eyes.
One Of the striking features Of the war be-
tween science and Scripture, which has broken
out with fresh vigor since Professor Tyndalrs
late speech at Belfast, is the mixed night 1t
has started in the ranks of science ITSELF
Nowhere is this latter contest more angry just
now than in England; and, while the masses
of science, herd-like follow their leader,
few vigorous and able pens are busy wiping
away the stigma cast on true science by Its
professed representative.
One of these writer's, the English geologist
Malet in recent review Of evolution in its
geological aspects, has struck some damaging
blows at the new speculation which will re-
quire much skill to parry. Last winter, our
readers will remember, the eminent British
astronomer, Professor Proctor, avowed his
belief that the solar system was not crea-
ton, but was birth or aggregation Of cosmi-
cal dust, and he went so far as to assert that
this theory was well nigh demonstrated. The
attempt to throw scientific dust into unscien-
tifc eyes, whether consciously or unintention-
ally made, we took occasion to rebuke in cour-
teous terms, which elected qualified
retraction from the renowned lecturer.
1t seems, however, that similar effort
has since been made in Professor
Proctor's own country by popular
scientist, IN the Geological Magazine claiming
the discovery Of the continuity of matter
throughout the universe" According to this
hypothesis the chemistry of all the meteorites
yield only those elements which we know to
exist on the earth, and, therefore, we must
conclude that the most remote realms of
stellar space contain only repetition OF ter
restrial substances. The theorist goes so far
as to contend that the great continental areas
were built up and outward by the sedimentary
deposits, resulting from the deposition of
meteoric matter showered down from ex.
ploding or crumbling stars, and accumulating
in the great submarine syncllnals parallel to
the coast.
To this view, SO ingeniously maintained,
MIR. Malet replies that the great sedlmentary
deposits do not settle down on the submarine
synclinals any more than the lees settle down
on the sides of the wine cask. The slopes
parallel to the coast are the arenas where the
last process takes place in triturating the
silicious rocks; they are rolled and battered
and pulverized, and the earthly solutions
transported by the waves action till the wa
ters, finding resting place, deposit them on
the flat. not on the sloping parts of the sea-
bed.
1t matters, however, very little what dis
position the contending disputants of science
may make of the meteoric rocks. Unscien-
tito men may not be able. to follow hypo-
thetical discussions, but they can sometimes
distinguish between hypothesis and fact and
it is needless to say that when they find dust
thrown in their eyes science will fare the
worse for it. The clews which philosophers
have so often attempted to follow, from the
known to the mysterious, have proved threads
of sand that break at touch and will not guide
them in the maze. In the recent attempts to
overthrow and get rid of Scripture the
eminent evolutionists Of England have done
themselves and science incalculable injury,
while their weapons of air have not broken
the sacred oracles Cosmogony and reason
have been united SO long and so intimately,
the great religious doctrines of the world have
been and are SO closely connected with us for
good or for evil, that, as Mr.. Malet says, 1--WE
are not prepared to get rid at once OF all the
gods and demons denounced by Professor
TyndalL" If, as Professor Tyndall himself
well says, 'Science demands the radical ex-
tirpation of caprice" let her begin at home
and with her own distinguished votaries.
Failing in this stern duty she must rapidly
degenerate, exposing herself to withering
satire recently uttered
| But, even as Milton's demons, problem. tossed,
When they had set their Maker at defiance
Still ''found no end in wandering mazes lost,n
| SO Ia 1t with our modern men OF science.