The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-03-16

Darwaaisn Stated ~ Dapwin HinssIE
There should be no mlsconception Of the
object contemplated BY the happily conceived
and well-executed epitone OF the late Charles
Darwins discoveries and gencralizations pro-
sented In Darninian Stated Jv Dar,oin Himself.
by NATHAN SHEPPARD tAppletonsl 1t IL not an
attempt TO show BY excerpts from his published
writings what views were held bv the great
naturalist regarding the capital problems Of
philosophy which are concerned with the
existence OF o God. the Immortality OF the soul.
and tho providentlal government OF the uni
verse; Such an attempt. as the compiler and
all careful reuders OF Darwin know. would
have been futile It Is probable that no
moro fervent lovor OF scientific truth
than the author OF the Origin OF Species I"
ever lived. but just because no loved It, he was
not more anxious to attain 1t by unremitting
search than ssdulous to secure for It candid
and prompt reception BY refraining on his own
part from all speculative deductions. by con-
vincng at once orthodox theologians and ra-
tionalists that his researches at all events were
prosecuted with an unwavcring eye and a single
heart. and without any reference to collateral
interests or remote consequences. To q man In
whom the lifelong scrutiny Of intricate and
perplexing phenomena had engendered wise
caution and an admirable modesty. 1t would
have seemed In the highest degree fool
hardy and impertinent to abandon the spe-
eial field OF rigorous inquiry which he
had made his own for the boundless ex-
panse OF unverifable speculation. He only
presumed to set forth the data which he be-
lieved himself to have authenticated. and to
formulate the laws or principles which those
data would be found through the application
OF q strict Induction to establish. In other
words. what he felt justified in giving to the
world were his certified discoveries and deib-
crate conclusions. not the venturesome conjec-
lures and vague impressions which he. like
other men. may have harbored in the hours Of
respite from the rigid concentration OF his fac
ulties on specific and attainable aim. So far
Is his published writings are concerned. this
student OF science maintained toward theology
the attitude nscribed TO the Chinese teacher OF
ethics, an attitude not so much OF avowed
agnosticism as OF humble self-reprsssion
and conscientious non attentiveness to Ques-
tions which, however momehtous in them
selves transcribed the limits OF the task which
he had set himself. Remembering. indeed.
how sharply he was In this respect distinguish
ed from many contemporary mon OF science in
England a. we'll as Germany We cannot dou BIT
that Darwin would have been deeply panied to
bo6 tu0 OpiHlOuS. uHulNul&eu D0cHuSe unNeTln-
able. regarding the Christian conception Of the
universe and OF mans relation to it, which he
had communicated In private letters to press
ing inauirers. seized upon and held up as proofs
OF the irreconcilabilitv OF his theory OF the
origin Of species and tho descent OF man with
orthodox theology.
In the book before us Mr.. Sheppard must be
credited with exemplifying the spirit OF i'm
partial truthseeking which inspired Darwin
himself. From these condensed results Of the
hard labor Of selection excision. and arrange
ment applied to more than dozen volumes 1t
Is impossible to draw any inference respecting
the philosophical opinions Of the compiler.
With the exception Of brief preface there is
not word OF comment. nor is there the faint
est indication OF an attempt to infuse into Dar-
wins text a meaning not patent there. BY I'M
warranted sub-titles or head lines. by shrewd
unfair emphasis. or artful colloca-
ton. Mr.. Sheppard has nowhere swerved from
his purpose OF showing in a clear. connected.
and very compendious form. not what Darwin
may have meant or has been charged with
but what no actually said. 1t
Ii true that in the presentation Of excerpts he
has not followed tho chronological order of
publication. although the latest opinions OF
man like Darwin. who was always ready to re-
vise conclusions In the light OF wider iniorma-
ton. would naturally have most weight But
wo do not think the reader will have reason to
complain OF the failure to observe the order OF
publication. seeing that he is warned OF 1t In
tho preface. and that the compiler has been
careful to employ the latest editions OF the
books quoted. Certainly any inconvenience
resulting from tho necessity Of recalling now
and then tho date OF particular nverment
Or hypothesis Is far more than compe nsated by
the obvious advantages OF the plan adopted by
Mr.. Sheppard. which was. as he tells US. to
conduct tho reader through the vegetable up to
The animal kingdom. and up from the lowest to
the highest animal man."
Anon. the many hundreds Of extracts COM
prised in Mr.. Sheppardts compend We have not
como on ono that might be deemed SUPER
fuous but In tho few selections that We pur-
pose making we shall conlne ourselves to such
passages as formulate the theories most con-
spicuousiy associated with Darwin's name.
hose. namely. which relate to the struggle for
existence and the survival Of the flttest and to
The genealogy OF man. What Darwin means.
Tor instance. by the struggle for existence 10
phrase. by the way. which was coined not by
Darwin. but by Spencer) we find defined in a
quotation from the Origin OF Species"
y Every being" We are told. which. during its
natural lifetime produces several seeds or
ogSs must suffer destruction during some
period OF Its life. and during some
season or occasional year: otherwise. on
the principle OF Ceometrical increase. its num-
bers would quickly become 40 Unfortunately
great that no country could support the prod
uct. Hence. as more individuals are produced
than can possibly survive there must in every
case be o struggle for existence. either ono In
dividual with another OF the same species or
with the individuals of distinct species or with
the physical conditions OF life. Thore
is no exception to the rule that every organic
being naturally increases at so high rate that
II not destroyed the earth would soon be COW
cred with the progeny Of a single pair"
A little later In the same book the same
primal fact is thus restatsd: I'm looking
at nature 1t Is most necessary never to forget
that every single organic being may DO said to
be striving to the utmost to increase in num-
bers; that each lives by n struggle at some
period Of its life; that heavy destruction in.
evitably falls either on the young or old during
each generation. or at recurrent intervals"
But is this SO dark and hateful picture OF the