Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-12-20


ply because we must-because it dis the
only possible explanation that we can
conceive. We must assume natural
selection to be the principle of the ex-
PLANTATION of the metamorphOSeS be-
cause all other apparent principles of
! explanation fail us, and it is incon-
ceiyable that there could yet be an
other capable of explaining the adap-
cation Of organisms without assuming
the help of a principle of design"
There is the difficulty. We cannot
demonstrate the process of natural Sc
lection in detail; we cannot even, with
more or less ease, imagine it. Ii is
purely hypothetical. No man. SO far
as We know, has ever seen it at work
An accidental variation may have
been perpetuated by Inheritance. and
in the struggle for existence the bear
er of it may have replaced. by virtue
of the survival of the titteSt. his less
improved competitors; but as far as
we know, no man or succession of
men have ever observed the whole
process in any single case. and GER
Servation. Variation by artificial Sc
lection, of course. We know very we'll:
but the intervention of the cattle
breeder and the pigeon fancier IS the
essence of artificial selection. 1t is
effected by their action in crossing,
by their skill in bringing the right
mates together to produce the pro
nrI tI1pn
selection who is to supply the breed
erS place? Unless the crossing is
properly arranged. the new breed will
never come into being. What is to
secure that the two individuals of Op-
pOsite sexes in the primeval forest.
who have been both accidentally
blessed with the same advantageous
variation shall meet and transmit
by Inheritance that variation to their
successors? Unless this step is made
good the modification will never get
start; and yet there is nothing to
ensure that step except pure chance.
The law of chances takes the place
of the cattle breeder and the pigeon
fancier The biologists do we'll to ask
if the occasional meetings of advan-
tageOuSly varied couples from age to
age are to provide the pedigree of
notifications which unite us to our
ancestor the jelly-fSh. Of course the
struggle for existence. and the sur.
~ of the tittcSt. would in the long
run secure the performance of the
@1,n l. Put
it would be of no use in setting the
improved breed going. There would
not be time. No possible varia ton
which is known to our experience, in
the short time that elapses in n single
life between the moment of maturity
and the age of reproduction, could en-
able the varied individual to clear the
field of all competitors, either by
Strengthening or starving them out.
But unless the struggle for existence
took this summary and internecine
character there would be nothing but
mere chance 10 secure that the ad-
vantageously varied bridegroom at
one end of the wood should meet the
bride, who by a happy contingency
had been advantageously varied in
the same direction at the same time at
the other end of the wood. 1t would
be a mere chance if they ever knew
of each others eXiStence-a still more
unlikely chance that they should resist
on both sides all temptations to Il less
advantageous alliance. But unless
they did so, the new breed would
never even begin, let alone the ques-
ton of its perpetuation after it had
begun. | think Prof. WeiSmann is
justified in saying that we cannot,
either with more or less ease, i'm
agine the process of natural selection.
1t seems strange that a philosopher of
Prof Weismann's penetration should
accept as established a hypothetical
process the truth of which he admits
that he cannot demonstrate in detail,
and the operation of which he cannot
even imagine. The reason that he
gives seems to me instructive of the
great danger scientific research is run
ming at the present time-the accept
ance of mere conjecture in the name
and place of knowledge, in preference
to making frankly the admission that
no certain knowledge can be attained.
eve accept natural selection" he says,
because we muSt-because it is the
only possible explanation that we can
conceive" Such a line of reasoning
is utterly out of place in science. We
are under no obligation to find a the,
DRY, if the facts will not provide
sound one.
To the riddles which nature pro-
pounds to us the profession of ignOr-
ance must constantly be our only rea-
sonable answer The cloud of impene
trable mystery hangs over the develop
ment and still more over the origin of
life. If we strain our eyes to pierce
it, with the fOregOne conclusion that
some solution is and must be attain
able, we shall only mistake for discOv-
cries the Pigments of our own imagina-
ton. Prof. Weismann adds another
reason for his belief in natural splpc-
ton which is certainly characteristic
Of the time in which we live. at is
conceivable" he says, chat there
should be another principle capable of
explaining the adaptation of organisms
without assuming the help Of a prin-
ciple of design" The whirligig of time
assuredly brings it's revenges. Time
was, not very long ago, when the be-
lief in creative design was supreme.
Even those who were sapping it's au-
thority where wont to pay it a formal