The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1880-07-14

the contrary: The State itself is
healthy and prosperous or weak
and sickly. The character of the
people stamps the fate OF the
State.
What manner Of men then are
specially called for by the times :?
Is there any thing in the indica-
tons Of popular thought and con-
duct, which makes this question
exceptionally significant now :?
Let us see. Within the last twen-
ty years 4 great revolution has
swept across the intellectual
world. When | look back thirty
years to my college days, and re-
cali the accepted unqueslioned
doctrines which prevailed IN re-
ligion, in politics, and in morals !;
and think Of the unsettled condi-
tion Of general opinion upon these
subjects now, it startles and
alarms me. We are passing
through some strange transition
period. Science has disturbed the
calm Of the past-we are in the
throes of what is to be the future
once it was conceded that men
were created by God, who breath
ed into them the breath of life.
The conception dignified and en-
n"bled the race. Now it seems that
all this is IAN old woman's story
too fanciful and fan tastic for phil
osophic credence. Science has
made the mystery all clear; so
that child might understand
Napoleon, Sir Isaac Newton and
George Washington through the
happy agencies of Natural selec-
ton and the survival Of the fit.
test were not descendants from
a creature Of marvellous capacities
specially assigned to this earth
for Provideutial purposes but
scientific evolutions from an an
cestraI spring Of anthromorphous
apes. The. Greeian and Roman
worthless loved to deduce their
stock from gods or demi-gods.
julius Caesar claimed descent from
the Goddess Venus. [ ike this.
There is something attractive in
it. It inspires one to feel that he
is Of God-iike race. BUTT is really
embarrassing, as you climb the
family ladder, all at once to find
yourself face to face with an ape
as your grand original. Such Il
discovery is apt seriously to COM
plicate the quarterings of the
family escutcheon. It. is indeed
knocking down our ancestors
with their own pedigree as
Charles Surface proposed to do
in the School for Scandal.
"When science from creations face,
Enchantment's veil withdraws,
What lovely visions yield their place
To cold N aterial laws
Mr.. Punch expressed his views
on this subject in the following
lines:
There was an ape il times that were earlier,
Centuries passed, and his hair became curlier,
Other centuries added a thumb to his wrist,
And then ne became man--ano a posltVISt.
1t is a human weakness TO feel
some pride in our ancestors-how-
ever true it may be, that they are
the very last persons with whom
we would desire to have a
visiting acquaintance. A writer in
the May number Of the North
american RsDieag in labored and
scientific essay entitled 'The Re-
ligion Of all sensible men sweeps
away 10 his satisfaction, the cob
webs which for eighteen hundred
years have clogged our brains and
befogged our vision. Some New
York journalist cleverly comments
on his theories after this fashion.
\ friend Of the sensible man has
lost q dearly beloved wife. The
philosopher calls upon him tor
comfort in his distress. He tells
him that he is very unreasonable
to grieve. His wife has accom-
pIished the great boon OF annlhll'
alton and now fultiIs her destiny
in the grand economy of nature.
Resolved into chemical elements,
she is now assisting in the mar
veIlous processes OF evolution.
The wretched man refuses to be
comtorted. He hoped to see her
again in another and better world {;
according to the teachings of ex-
ploded faiths. AS a last resort the
sensible man strives TO divert his
mind, by the examination of 4
novel and interesting application
~ tho binnp,;,l +bao,on, kvaD