The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-03-23
VOL. V.
THE wonLD,sDEArH AND BURIAL.

THE WORLDS DEATH AN ID BU HAL
The lectures Of Professor Proctor, the
English astronomer and scientist, excite tie
wonder and admiration OF learned people
| everywhere. He tells that it is quite I'M
possible, as all must admit who are accus-
toned to contemplate the brilliantly star-lt
heavens OF this low latitude, to contemplate
the heavenly bodies and not confess that
| many of them must be preferable as abiding
places for sentient beings to this earth of
ours. But it is painfully true that research
es of astronomers can only throw light on
the economy of the universe, and all the
combined learning of physicists, biologists
ana philosophers fails to discover the con-
ditions or even facts of life in other worlds.
The theory of the steady progressive devel-
opment, growth and extension OF planet
life has aroused endless opposition among
good people who imagine that Mr.. Proctor's
philosophy is in conflict with their fixed
religious prejudices or convictions. But
this seeming, rather than actual conflict
between religion and science has frequently
each discovery of true science, instead of
initiating against, confirms the statements
of theologists. Mr.. Proctor applies facts
and reasoning, evolved here on this, to
other planets. He states that in process of
time, after the formation of a planet, it
slowly attains conditions essential to the
maintenance of animal and vegetable life.
Then, as the cooling process progresses, the
planet grows weary and old, even as the
blood courses more and more slowly
through the veins of the old of our race.
The pale-faced dying world then struggles
for time for existence, it grows lustreless,
as we see 1t through telescopes and pale and
cold and shudders and is no more. Thinking,
intelligent people have divested themselves
long ago of the idea that Earth constitutes
central figure in space, and they should as
thoroughly discard the belief that Earth
holds any more important place or subserves
more significant purpose in the grand
economy of the universe than any other
planet. Would it not be equally wise to
discard the idea that the present time, in
the course OF universal events, is T.ore CEN
trail than any other2 So far as planets and
worlds are concerned, this period in the lapse
| of infinite ages is no more central or in
| portant than any of the future or the past.
| Perhaps the large planets have longer
J life than the smaller, and each is in a diff
i ferent stage of development or decay. Be-
cause of finite understandings and narrow
/ views and restricted vision vain and extrav-
agant Importance is given to the period OF
our lives, to the period In the worlds ex-
istence of which we are aware, and to the
planets and stars within our range of vision.
But we see and dwell, and our planet moves
in the smallest corner of immensity, and
there are ever found other infnities and
suns and moons and stars beyond these that
j visible system of universes. The more We
know of the Unknown the more trifiing be-
comes the importance of ourselves
and of our planetary habitat. Mr..
Proctor is ungenerous In discussing the
attractiveness of the beautiful Venus which
the Library Association often adjourHs to
contemplate when the brilliant planet az
companies the moon going away from among
the stars to repose behind the Western
hills. Venus, he tells u.s. has an atmos-
phere of about the same refracting power
rs the earth's, and yet Venuss condition is
evidently such that the maintenance, upon
the planets surface, of animal life is quite
impossible and thus many ''loye's young
dream" is dissolved by the astronomical
alchemist. And if Venus be thus sterile
waste where love and life and beauty have
no abiding place, how repulsive must be
the face of other lustreless worlds which,
as astronomers know, have ceased to li7e
The seasons in Venus are most strongly
marked and such is the inclination of the
p.Gnet's axis and its proximity to the sun
that the extremes of heat and cold must be
excessive; and thus it has ever been of ev-
cry Venus whom, through checkered life,
we have encountered. In Mars, Mr.. Proc
tor has learned, there is no water. If they
have there, as on this planet of ours, a
martial President there may be a whisky
ring like that encircling Saturn and glis-
tening about st. Louis. But we only pro-
posed to advert to the fact that the pro-
foundest scientist of modern times ex-
pounds with singular clearness and sim
phcity the theory that planets and worlds
and systems of worlds and suns, moons and
stars, like man, have their periods of gesta-
tion and grand births and grand deaths,
and on the tomb of one is built the life of
another, and when the end of each comes,
as come it must, endless professions of
worlds follow in the footprints of the life
less planet encoffined in immensity, to its
abode in that outer darkness of which the
Bible tells.
THE GRAND .CONVENrION AND ITS
EXPLO>ION.