Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1877-07-10
Clarence King, one of the youngest and

Clarence King, one of the youngest and
an observer and student of the highest in
tellectual character-has Just delivered before
the Sheffield Scientific School, Yale College,
remarkable paper which is sure to arouse
widespread and perhaps heated discussions
between the champions of the two great
schools His own theory can be briefly given;
Taking America as an illustration, he claims
that there lies buried "another distinct con-
tinent" beneath this one, an 'archRan
America" in fact It's coast line may not
be surveyed, but its greater feature-lts
mountains, for instance-have been traced as
co-extensive with our present systems. This
archean continent has been lifted and finally
submerged by interior forces. The uplifting
Of ocean beds until drained they make con-
tinental areas, is distinctly shown. On the
East, that is the Atlantic side, the changes
have been long in making; on the Vast they
we're more sudden and complete, since con-
tinuing undisturbed. Hence it is that the
progress of this phenomenal activity can be
traced, as no where else in the world, among
the enormous and axial features of the Col
orado plateau, the great Sierras, the dry beds
of vast inland seas, and all the other mighty
physical features of which Clarence King has
been so clear and close an observer America
he considers formed by cotastrophcs And
1t Is in illustration of the vicissitudes that
must have ensued therefrom that evolution
corollary OF uniformity receives its severe
est blow. 1t does not need any argument to
show that if Mr.. King be right, the evolution
theory as an all-controlling universal law,
can have no real basis for its support. Mr.
King allows, in a limited degree, that both
evolution and uniformity are governing prin-
ciples in periods of restfulness from the
archean volcanic forces, whose powerful
dynamics has stamped the world with such
mighty evidences of their vigor. Such periods
as the present, for instance, are those of un-
formity. According to him the biological
school take little or no account of modified
catastrophe as powerful shaping influence,
and gives TO hereditivity place TO which it
Adaptivity or accommodation TO circum-
stances is, in Mr.. Kings view, the one true
principle which the evolution school has
brought into prominence Natural selec-
ton" the theory with which Darwin name
is inseparably associated, divides itself into
the two branches named. The last is made
subordinate to the first, which, if catastrophe
ism be true, can have no foundation in truth,
no basis as a cosmical law or principle. The
difficulty with the biological theory is that it |
takes too little account of Elasticity an adsp- |
tivity, and none at all of the influence which |
physical environment must have had, and |
still does, on animal and other life, Rapid |
and great changes of climate and physical |
Ill Of three effects-e1termination destruction
Of the equilibrium, thus precluding natural
or finally, rapid changes on the
part Of plastic species These latter would
i've and become the source of subsequent
yrowth, when period of uniformity like the
present had come to the earth, making
evolutionary complexity and adaptivity the
more reasonable possible agencies. Mr..
Kings demonstration is the boldest and
blest yet made against the school he so vigor-
,usly assals Our interest lies largely in the
act that as an American scholar and observer,
Nth practical experience that may be
ermed vast, he obtains his inspiration from
hose mighty features of our continental
hysics, with which his field of scientific
abor has made him familiar Whatsoever t
nay be the outcome of the discussion Mr.
ling has challenged, his countrymen at least 1
ccord to him high need of admiration for
is intellectual courage, while the superb l
rmy of brave thinkers who are touching the {
keys of the universe" and recording the
otes they hear-will accord to him the high .
onor of imparting to the age one Of the most
Important contributions yet made to the
terature of these great topics.
"THE Folly OF REsUMING SPECIE PAY q
EsTs" is the title of a pamphlet of % pages, q
Importing to be An interview between
erchant and banker, in which the views =,
each are given on the vexed question of n
IT national currency. The argument is to ! r