Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-04-03
PosTuLATEs OF SCIENCE.

PoSTULATES OF SCIENCE.
A Few Searching Questions Relative to
Some Natcrialistic Problems.
The first temptation Of every great
theory is to be impatient of barriers of
facts. The postulate must advance to
a proven position. whatever may stand
in the way. Hence the assumptions of
science. The sweeping and gilt
tering the theory, the more impatient is
the theorizer OF all challenges, the
proudly disposed to overlcap facts in
his progress toward the goal, or to as
sumo facts in order to sustain positions.
Thus when, a few years ago, a distin-
guished writer would ;,ntagonize the ice
theories that have been used to account
for the existence of the gravel deposits
or the surface of the earth, he assumed
the existence of q great comet, the
million miles of whose tail were made
up of gravel, which tail the comet
wound round the earth, and 10! the
gravel deposits We're there. Tt was all
easy enough and scientific enough if
the comet were only supplied. So in
our modern sweep of materialism, by
which all things I supposed to be ac-
counted for; it is all very well--if no
impertinent facts are permitted to
cross-examine the theory. Granted
a world growing up out of moth
ing, growing forever, endowed with all
self-originating properties and powers
q growth ht- 1nfnitnc1p,o1 V,,.;ot;.,,,
toward higher forms-then given time
enough, and the work is done, and ma
terialism comes to it's throne.
There is, however, manifest nova
days. not only among Independent un-
scientific scholars, but also among hard
working and thorough scientists, to
stop the lordly sweep of materialism
toward its throne of universal empire
by asking it some daring questions, to
answer which may possibly postpone its
ascendency for some time to come. For
example, it is not satisfactory for ma
teria]ism t. post an evolving force at
the beginning OF things without telling
us something about its nature. If it IS
TO account Tor the universe it must be
made to give an account of itself. It
will not do to answer by spelling the
word with a capital F. That argues
nothing: II it is to be endowed with
the properties and faculties of a Gre
ator, we must be allowed to ask what is
the nature of tie creator. If personal,
selt-existent and almighty, we propose
TO call Him God. If not personal, but
still almighty and ~self-existent, we in
slst on knowing something of The ma
ture OF that thing before we accept it as
a sufficient explanation of the begin
ming OF things, Thoughtful materialists
here put in the plea Of science. Whence
or what, they do not affect to tell us.
10 which we have a right to reply, ST.
lence explains nothing. An underlined
force put at the beginning of things bv
an assumption to explain the origin Of
tllngs is an unscicntific procedure.
Glven a comet, with a gravel-tail col
llolng with the earth and we have the
graVel-dcposits, but whence the comet?
Given a sufficient force from the begin
nlngg, and things are explained. But
whence and what that force? Silence
mere is fatal to absolute materialism.
Ut, again there seems to be some de-
sign in nature. The more nature is
studied the clearer that design becomes.
Intelligence is involved in the very
idea implied in the word design. If
there is no intelligence outside the
chain OF events, how does that chain
unwind so directly toward great ends
This question has halted Mi. Huxley
He has candidly confessed that tbo
materlallst has no explanation, and that
SO long as there is evident design in
nature the theological can ALWAYS defv
the scientists to prove that it was not
meant to be there. And the burden Of
proof IS on the materialist. He can NOT
Walve the problem aside. He is account
ing ior the universe without an outside
intelligence. He is, therefore. bo,n,l
o say whence-in harmony with hia
tl1eory-come the marks of that intclli-
gence. He has not done it. Until ho
ooes' matcrialism is halted in its march
SO also with the fact of r,tionai
thought in the world. There is no kin.
shlp between an irrational and a~rat;on-
al beng. No bridge has ever hnnn
built crossing from the one to the other
The last advance in matter loa.a.
wholly ~unaccounted for the REASONING
o. me mn and the freedom of the wifi
AN eminent German professor has 70.
Gently said: Chemistry has no author
Ivy Whatever in questions of mind for
1t knows only things that can be ,xeirbl
ca ana perceived by the senses. and
even these only on a small scale any
separately: THERE'S no possibility for
1t to explain the smallest and sin,ylo,.
thought" 'Ao S"''plest
Until. therefore. some Of these NASTY,