Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1885-10-09
ROSEBURG REVIEW
FRIDAY, OCTOBER ., 1885.
"Eroiutioa Sci .Daek.

''EeoiHtioa Sci BGck."
EDlToE REVIEW. observe that you
quote one of the greatest living physi-
cists, Sir William Thompson, as saving,
''that men could be thus evolved out of
the inferior auimals," he looked upon
Gas the widest dream of materialism.
With your permission | would Ike to
offer few thoughts on this subject,
Evolution set Back. What calamity,
who set it back, Sir William Thompsonl
What mighty backsetter he must be.
The "holy Inquisition" thought it had
set back the theory Of astronomy, when
it declared that Galileo's theory of as
tronomy was "false in philosophy, and
absolutely heretical, because it (the
Copernican theory IS expressly contra
ry to scripture" and "s detriment to
the holy faith" 1t was case Of opin-
ion vs. opinion. But whose opinion has
stood the crucial test of time and close
investigation Any school boy will
answer that.
It may be Evolution will stand the
same test, Sir William Thompson to
the contrary notwithstanding. The
great physicist says Evolution is the
widest dream Of materialism." It is
easy to make sweeping assertions, but
to back up an assertion by good argu-
ment is more difficult. Evolution is
either true or it is false.
If true million Sit William
Thompsons could not set it back very
far, and If false like number of Dar-
wins could not establish It. Evolution
must stand or fall upon its own merits.
Sir Win. T. has right to his opinion
likewise the REVIEW and when either
of you will give us reason for the
hope that is within you no one viii
listen more gladly, or consider them
more carefully than the writer Of this.
The age has gone by when men ac-
cept a theory upon mere authority of
him who offers an opinion though
never so learned
The troable is, theology is tender
to feel and cries ouch at the smallest
pressure from the advancing steps of
science, is fearful Of the destruction Of
the holy faith.
But science goes on III her quiet and
unostentatious manner, gathering up
new truths from the fruitful womb of
nature. Scienee patiently searches for
facts, truth, principles; arranges them
into groups, families and orders; ana
kzes and synthetizes; notes the differ
entiations under natural, accidental OF
intentional charges Of all forms that
come within her observation and tht
conditions that facilitate or retard
evolutionary processes. Then by in
ductive reasoning deduces theory tc
account for the known phenomena un
der im1nutable laws.
The differentiation Of the lower pro
toplastic life into the higher order OF
sentient beingis riddle to some, espec-
tally to theoloeians Theology com
bats evolution with zeal not unlike
that against astronomy in the days OF
Calico and Bruno Theology plays
upon the words AUTHORIZATIONS" "pro
toplasm" and 'the survival of the Gtest'
with the fippaacy of a child with the
words papa and mamma, and as little
understandingIy. But as Sir William
Thompson did not tell us nor the RE
VIEW inform us of the reasons for his
opinion we will await further Ii 5ht
from Sir William and the REVIEW, ant
may the iitest survive. EFoLCTIoNlsT,
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