The river press., 1886-11-24
For the River Press.
MANS PROGRESS.
BY HENRY MACDONALD.

The history of mans progress should
properly begin with the origin of the first
germ. In all instances which have yet
been Investigated, the substance OF this
germ has a chemical composition consist
ing Of at least four elementary bodies, VIZ : |
carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen,
united into the compound known as pro-
ten, and associated with much water and
generally with sulphur and phosphorus in
minute proportions.
In all animals and plants above the
lowest, the germ is a nucleated cell; and
the first step in the process of the evolu-
ton Of the individual is the division OF
this cell into two or more portions. The
process of division is repeated until the
organism, from being single cell, be-
comes a multitude of cells. The single
cell becomes cell aggregate; and it is to
the growth and matamorphosis of the cells
Of the cell aggregate thus produced, that
all the organs and tissues Of the adult owe
their origin. r5
It would probably be a barren task to.
endeavor to trace mans origin from the
first protozoan, whose life consisted of a
mere dilation and contraction of its proto-
plasm-to follow the organism through
the slimv horrors of extinct life, to the
final elimination in the man-like animal,
man.
|
In all the principles Of his internal struc-
ture, in the composition and function OF
his parts, man is but an animal. lie is
framed on the same principles and COM
posed of the same materials as the
creatures he has tanned for his use or Stays
for his daily food. When we compare man
with existing apes, we must admit that
man differs less from them physically,
than they differ from each other. AS to
the capacity Of the Uranium, men differ
more from each other than the difference
between man and the gorilla. A series of
the apes, arranged from the lower to the
higher orders shows gradations from a
brain little higher than that Of rat, to q
brain like an imperfect imitation Of
mans.
Professor Huxley, in comparing man
with order after order of the mammalia
decides: ssThere would remain then but
one order for comparison, that of the
Apes, (using that word in its broadest
sense) and the question for discussion
would narrow itself to this lis man so
different from any Of the Apes that he
must form an order by himself? Or does
/ he differ less from them than they differ
from one another, and hence must take
his place in the same order with thern?"
There is manifest progress in the sue
cession of beings on the surface Of the
earth. This progress consists in an in
creasing similarity of the living fauna,
and among tlae vertebrates especially, in
their increasing resemblance to man.
similar in their nature to our own. The
phenomenon of memory and feeling OF
desire and aversion, Of love and hatred,
of fear and revenge, are rs strongly
marked i'm animals as man.
Darwin, in his descent of Man, APP
plies his theory to man in these words
ssThe Catarhine and Platyrhine monkey
agree in multitude of characters, as is
shown by their unquestionably belonging
TO one and the same order. The many
characters which they possess in common
can hardly have been independently ac-
quired by SO many distinct species; SO that
these characters must have been inherited
But an ancient form which possessed
many characters common to the Catarhine
and Platyrhine monkeys and others in ar
intermediate condition, and some few per,
haps distinct from those now present In
either group would undoubtedly have
been ranked, il seen by naturalist, as ar
ape or monkey, and as man under :
genealogical point of view belongs to the
Catarhine or Old World stock, we nlus
conclude, however much the conclusion
may revolt our pride, that our early pro
genitors would have properly thus beer
designated. But we must not fall into the
error r~of supposing that the early progeni
tor OF the whole simian stock, including
man, was identical with or even closely
resembled. any existing ape or money.
There may have existed creatures aboYf
the apes, but yet not man, which may
have been annihilated in the struggle fo1
existence, by its abler successor. Many
asserted species have been reduced te
mere varieties and geology may at any
time discover the missing link The
/ science that can trace through an nnbro.
little animal not larger than a fox, Will
four toes on its front and three on its hind
feet, may at.any time discover traces d
the hypothetical animal. mans near an.