The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-09
DARW1N1sM DENIED.

No Transfer nation Of Species In Any
/ Kingdom.
In the course of anthropology in the mu-
scum Of natural history Of Paris NJ. A. de
Quatrefages has boldly denied the primary
postulate OF Darwinism, which is the pos
sibility Of the transformation of speciesy
says the Churchman. According to the
Darwinists the horse has been evolved
from the hipparion and that from
the antediluvian palaeotherlum. Man,
too, has been evolved from an
unknown anthropoid ape and that from
some lower form of the quadrumana. In
every such case transformation of one
species into another Is supposed to be the
result Of series of gradual variations.
of species has been observed. NJ. de Qua
trefaRes asserts that it is impossible. The
subject is interesting. We shall endeavor
briefly to outline the argument.
N. do Quatrefages observes that there is
certain analogy between organic and IN
permanent specific character, physiological
in organic species and chemical in inorganic
species, WHOM is immutable, and at the
same time morphology, which is almost
infinitely variable. In the one class heredi-
ty and in the other chemical composition
A40y RAV0UO0 O0O1oo0 VdIAhU1Ou0 VI 1OIus
but there is nothing in nature to suggest
the possibility Of the transmutation of
specific character.
Examining the minerals there are found
to be twelve distinct forms of the diamond
or crysta!ized carbon, twenty-four Of
quartz, thirty three of the carbonate Of
baryta, seventy-nine of the sulphate Of lime.
In this enumeration only conspicuous va
riations are noticed. IF lesser varieties
were to be reckoned N. de Bournon has de-
scribed nearly eight hundred varieties Of
the carbonate of lime alone. But in every
one of the eight hundred the specific SUBJ
stance is the same; that is, it invariably
contains exactly the same proportion Of
carbonic acid and of lime. In other words,
the form of species has varied, while the
species itself remains immutable.
In the organic world NJ. de Quatrefages
ton coexisting with the immutability of
species. Accidental notifications he des-
cribes as varieties; varieties which have be-
come hereditary he calls races. A thou
sand races Of the vine are known to exist;
zoo races Of wheat have been catalogued;
all derived from the common rock dove;s ON
recent occasion 200 races Of dogs were
brought together at one exhibition.
But is there one single instance of veritable
change Of species? N. de Quatrefages en-
SPECIFICALLY answers that there is mono.
ganic equivalents Of neurological species.
Like the latter they have their proper and
peculiar nature. They are elements Of the
organized world, as the others are elements
Of the inorganic world. There is the point
which is forgotten or denied by the Darwin
lists. They will not see the reality of spe-
cies-that specific autonomy which exists
IN the presence Of all morphological modi-
n. de Quatrefages concludes with an ear
nestness worthy of his subject: "Tberc is
. radical difference between species and
hereditary varieties Of race. Races of the
same species can unite to the remotest de-
gree, and their fecundity is in no way inn
paired. The species cannot unite; or, in
spring y sterile. There is no physiological
OF the same species; there is
a barrier between species which
appear to be most clearly allied, and il it Is
overpassed in a few rare instances it asserts
it's presence in very few generations. In
every organic species there is something
which issolateS it from all others and
which preserves its identity in spite of
every variation. That something survives
under every modification of form. Trans
formation of species is as impossible in the
organic rs In the inorganic world"
"a. de Quatrefages may we'll call halt on
the unscientidc speoulation which has 90
proudly plumed itself under the name Of
scientific imagination" Unless the dis
tinctton between race and species can be
set aside-and the burden OF proof rests on
the Darwinists-then Darwinism is not the
probable hypothesis it has been supposed to
be. On the contrary, the Darwinian notion
OF the TRANSFORMATION of species is az idle
and unscientific fancy as the alchemist,s
dream OF the transformation Of metals. A