Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1882-09-24
HERBERT sPENCEB.

HERBERT SPENCER.
There arrived in New York several
weeks ago, an Euglishmau of slim
features and not Over-rObust appearance,
who went ut once to the house of an
American friend, and proposes to re-
main for six months in the United
States without accepting the usual
fornalities of lionizatinn which would
be gladly rendered him, were he so dis
posed. The name of the modest Eng
lishman is HERBERT SPENCER, and it
NAV be said OF him, Complementary,
that be is the greatest thinker Of the
nineteenth century, and that only
BACON, among all the men who have
made the English language illustriouS
by their contributions to philosophy
thro' its medium, surpasses him i'll aSsur-
ed rank among the creators of philoso-
phical system. Of the value Of Mr..
SPENCER's system of philosophy, there
is no longer any dispute, even among
those who fail to accept his conclusions.
The number Of these latter is so large,
both in England and the United States,
and the points upon which they ground
their difference are so radical, that the
wide circulation obtained by Mr..
SrENCER's works and the readiness
with which he is accepted as an au-
thcrity on matters of kind not con-
troverSial, constitutes what may be
called a literary phenomenon. This is
due chiefly TO the universal recognition
of the sincerity of Mir. SPENCER'S think
ing and the impartial character OF the
Judgment he forms. The characteristic
of his mind which on the whole is most
striking, is his ability to diyest himself
of partiSanship in the discussion of the
problems of life and Of science to which
he addresses his attention. He accepts
no conclusions at second hand. From
the logic of demonstration once made,
ne never shrinks. His own philosophy
he subjects to the most remOrselesS
criticism and analysis. To the illuStra-
ton of his philosophy he brings the
fact of nature comprehendcd in as wide
d sweep as any intellect of any genera
ton has exhibited. \ large portion of
the facts upon which his deductions
are based are the results of inyeStiga-
tons made at first hand bS himself. In
his methods of work he resembles
DARWIN more nearly than any other
contemporary or fellow worker. The
personal relations between the two were
as intimate a. is the relationship be-
tween their writings. There is some
times apparent disposition to look
upon Mr.. SPENCER as a disciple of OAR
WIN, and he has been called his imitator.
Those who draw such Il comparison do
not comprehend the breadth of
system Of philosophy. That
he is not the originator Of the theory of
evolution Is beyond dispute. DARWIN
himself was not the originator of that
theory. There were German philoso-
pliers who distinctly formulated it be-
fore DARWIN had published word, it
not before he was born. But DARWIN
did mo than any one else, more than
all others combined, IN the investiga-
ton aud ana 'ysis of the data upon which
the theory rests. Mr.. SPENCER is in
debted to DARWIN for much of the
most important material upon which
he POUNDS his conclusions. But OAR
WINS work was in the primary field of
SPENCER'S investigations. The former
was q specialist, who applied the
doctrine of evolution to the origin OF
species and the descent of man. Mr..
SPENCER, occupying a border field,
first made the universal application of
the doctrine of evolution to all the
phenomena ofthe universe, and he alone
has done original and systematic work
i'm the demonstration of that universal
application. In this great work of the
deve opment of this theory, Mr..
SPENCER is now nearing the compile
ton, after years of arduOus labor, which
have destroyed the vigorous constitu-
ton of his youth. He is now engaged
upon the third volume of the Principles
OF Morality, the first part Of which has
been published. The second volume of
the Principles of Morality will compete
the Synthetic Philosophers work
which already ranks among the master
ie.es Of the human mind. In view of
the presence of Mr.. SPENCER upon our
shores, with the purpose of making
some personal Investigations for use IN
lis work, it is pleasant to recall the
fact that it was in the United States
that the value and significance of his
writings WAS first recognized, and that
in our country the largest and most ap-
preciative class of his readers is still to
no fnuD1