Connecticut western news., 1882-05-03
THE DESCENT OF MAN.
George Ripley on Darwin's Influence.

George Ripley on Darwin's Influence.
 Regarding MT. Darwin's painstaking and scrupulous methods of investiga- tion, his thoroughness of presentation of the facts gathered to support his theo- ries, his style of argument and the ex- alted plane of his philosophy of man considered as more than animal, George Ripley wrote in the Tribune of Febru- ary 10, 1871, in review on .ssThe De- scent of Man," as follows
 We believe that it is now generally admitted among scientific men that the publication of Darwin's "Orlgin of Species" has formed new epoch in the study of natural history. Not that his views have met with universal accep- tance, 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 Attest. 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 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 8 conviction of their truth is indeed probably without parallel in the his- tory of knowledge. Much of their suc- cess may, no doubt, be ascribed to the profound learning, the simple and ear nest tone, the transparent candor and the freedom from 8 controversial spirit by which they are set forth by one author. His evident love of truth is suited to disarm prejudice. His im- mense array of facts has an imposing character, while the lucid and unaffected style of bis composition perpetually en- | tiees the interest of the reader.
 We have selected few of the popu- lar illustrations which are brought by MT. Darwin to explain the afinities be- tween man and the inferior animals. which, in his view, compel us to refer the origin of both to a 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 MT. Darwin offers few pregnant sugges- tions which illustrate the spirit in which he has prosecuted his labors. "Thus 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. If 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 no one with an unbiased mind can study any living creature, however humble, without being struck with enthusiasm at it's marvellous structure and proper ties."
 Whatever judgment may be pro- nounced as to the tendency of MT. Dar- wins views of the origin of man, to humble tho natural pride of ancestry, we ought not to lose sight of the fact that no philosophical writer of the present day sets forth a 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 crowning glory of humanity. In this respect his system presents a favorable contrast to the shallow, sensualistic French phiIos- ophy of the eighteenth century, which resolves the most refined sentiments of our nature into feshly illusions.
 "The question:" says MT. 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" "I fully subscribe to the judgment of those writers 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 rightful supremacy over every other principle of human action ; it is summed up in that short but imperiors word, ought, so full of high significance. It is the most noble of all the attributes of man, lending h1m without moments hesitation to risk his life for that of a fellow-creature or, after due delibera. tion, impelled simply by the deep feel ing of right or duty, to sacrifice it in some great cause.