The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-26

the while real, rs it 10 now BRIEF struggling,
painiui, tue Paything Of accident, nreny flashing
out OF the darkness anu again disappearing into II
coming knew whence, gong nooe knew whittier; ;
yet while lasted with it's passions and It's affections,
mean degradations lis enihusasms aud It's remorse,
lis Wild bursts ofjoy aud agonies OF PAIN was an
important possession TO the owner oil ~ ana specua-
tions about plastic nature would not be likely "
satisfy him when he demanded the meaning OF H.
.'rns Romans bads war aud crime 10 cease. Tho
spiritual misery OF men had been self caused by tau
tastc inlagnations, by groundIess terrors, by
dreams OF supernatural powers, whose caprice per
secuted them in this world, ana whose vindicive
malice threatened to make them wrctched in the
next Religion had been tho curse OF the earth, and
though fools might still torture themselves with q
beei IN II, u thoy SO pleased, Lucreuus, speaking
the very Utmost conviction OF the imperial Roman
mind. informed them thai religion was phantom DO.
which man was part, was a system Of things which
had beon generated by natural forces. Gods
nature also, but not gods who troubled
themselves about men. All things pro-
cesded IRON eterui.y In one unchaogng sequence Of
cause and effect and man had but 10 Understand
nature and follow her directions TO create his own
prosperity and his own happiness, uud,sturbed by
fear OF supernatural disturbance III the suiierlngs
and enjoyments Of this world were distributed by u
experimenting providence, was providence which
showed no regard tor moral worth or worlhle ssness
The good often miserable, the wicked 1ourshed,
and power so careless OF justice, even II II existed
did not deserve 10 be But II existed only
IN The BRAIN ri Evils, what called evils
were necessary part Of an imperfect existence. AS
the iegions struck down tho natlonaIities of Asia
overthrow Of thor superstitions ana proclaimed the
sovereignty OF science
"Unilke thsoireok mythology, the system Of Lucre-
titus was not thing oi Imagination splenddly ~
his genius illustrated the details OF the Epicurean
philosophy. the system Itself was based
lion Of acls astonsh,ngly accurate, II consider
age AT which ne lived; and his interences were drawn
the striclest scientific method Within the proper
limits Of physical science ne anticipated many oil the
CONGRATULATIONS OF the best modern scionthc thinkers
His moral and spiritual conclusions arc almost
acty The same as lnors Spiritual philosophy grows
whether
be derived from wide or limited induction, whether
the facts appealed to be completely known or only
imperfccly wnen ouce the principles arc assumed the
same deductions will follow. 84
sThc readers o Darwin will miss the theory OF tho
mod fcaIon OF species, which II impossible Tor
Lucretus TO have guessed, but they will Ind nowhere
tne mouern doctrine OF the survival OF the httesI
stated more clearly and CAREFULLY. Those who deny
most earnestly that any elemental power OF spon-
famous generation DO traced operation ~ pres
ent less coundcnt that II may not have existed
under earlier conditions OF tins planet or may not
exist al present In other planes Tho theory OF Lu-
cre!us Is not In the least more extravagan tnan the
suggestion Of Sir William Thompson that the hrst hv
Ing germ was introduced by aero.ite." ~