News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-05-18
THE DESCENT OF MAN.
George Ripley on Darwin's Influence

Regarding Mr.. Darwin's painstaking |
and scrupulous methods of investiga-
ton, his thoroughness of presentation of
the facts gathered to support his theo-
ries, his style of argument and the ex-
allied plane of his philosophy of man
considered as more than animal, George |
Ripley wrote in the Tribune of Febru-
airy 10, 1871, in review on "The De.
scent of Man." as follows
We believe that it is now generally |
admitted among scientific men that the
publication of Darwin's Origin of
Species " has formed a new epoch in the
study of natural history. Not that his
views have met with universal accep-
lance, or have been placed beyond the
reach OF correction on the part of future
inquiries; for they have been subjected
to searching criticisms by many eminent
scientists; and even among those who
acknowledge the general principle of
evolution, his theory of Natural
Selection, or the survival of the fittest,
has been regarded as untenable in several
important details, or incumbered with
difficulties which have yet found no
valid solution. Still the progress of his
theories in the scientific world has been
something marvellous. They have
found a reception within the short
interval since their announcement which
was not accorded even to Newton's
doctrine of gravitation, or to Rants
analysis of the conceptions of time and
space.
The rapidity with which they have
impressed the minds Of scientific men
with a conviction of their truth is indeed
probably without parallel in the his
tory of knowledge. Much of their sue
cess may, no doubt, be ascribed to the
profound learning, the simple and ear
nest tone, the transparent candor and
the freedom from a controversial spirit
by which they are set forth by one
author. His evident love of truth is
suited to disarm prejudice. His i'm
mense array of facts has an imposing
character, while the lucid and unaffected
style of bis composition perpetually en-
tees the interest of the reader.
We have selected few of the popu-
lar illustrations which are brought by
Mr.. Darwin to explain the affinities be-
tween man and the inferior animals
which, in his view, compel us to refer
the origin of both to common, but
long since extinct, progenitor. They
afford an example of the scope and
method of his reasonings, but present
only an imperfect idea of the variety
and richness of his suggestions.
With regard to the bearing of his theory
on the dignity of the human race Mr..
Darwin offers few pregnant sugges-
tions which illustrate the spirit in
which he has prosecuted his labors.
'sThus we have given to man pedigree
of prodigious length, but not, it may
be said of noble quality.
"The world, it has been remarked,
appears as if it had long been preparing
for the advent of man; and this, in one
sense, is strictly true, for he owes his
birth to long line of progenitors. II
any single link in this chain had never
existed man would not have been exactly
what he now is. Unless we willfully
close our eyes, we may, with our present
knowledge, approximately recognize
our parentage; nor need we feel ashamed
of it. The most humble organism is
something much higher than the
inorganic dust under our feet; and nc
one with an unbiased mind can study
any living creature, however humble,
without being struck with enthusiasm
at its marvellous. ueture and -asoner,
| Whatever Judgment may 10 pre-
nounced as TO the tendency of Mr.. Oar.
wins views of the origin of man, to
humble the natural pride of ancestry,
we ought not to lose sight of the fact
that no philosophical writer of the
present day sets forth more exalted
| conception of the actual faculties and
endowments of the race as developed
under the highest forms of moral and
religious culture in the progress of civil,
ization. He almost goes out of his way
to do Justice to the ideas and beliefs
which have been regarded by the wisest
thinkers in every age as the GROWING
glory of humanity. In this respect his
system presents favorable contrast to
the shallow, sensualistic French phiIos-
ophy of the eighteenth century, which
resolves the most refined sentiments oil
our nature into feshly illusions.
"The question:" says Mr.. Darwin,
"whether there exists Creator and
and Ruler of the Universe has been
answered in the affirmative by the high
est intellects that have ever lived, -
81 fully subscribe to the Judgment OF
those writer's who maintain that of all
differences between man and the lower
animals, the moral sense of conscience
is by far the most important. This
sense, as Macintosh remarks, "has a
rightful supremacy over every other
principle of human action :" it is
slammed up in that short but imperious
word, ought, SO full of high significance.
1t is the most noble of all the attributes
of man, leading HIM without moments
hesitation to risk his life for that of a
fellow-creature; or, after due delibera.
ton, impelled simply by the deep feel
ing of right or duty, to sacrifice it in
some great cause.
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