Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-08-15
CREATION, NOT EVOLUTION.

The Darwinian theory Of natural Sc
lection" which at one time by many
was considered the very highest per-
lection OF light IN the world of sciences,
is about to be discarded entirely, as not
| In accordance with observed facts. A
Dutch scientist, Hugo de Vrles. claims
that transformation OF species. so far
from being slow and gradual, is sudden
and "spasmodic" where It occurs at
all He maintains that changes are
produced In different ways, and that
they sometimes are injurious to the
creature and sometimes not The cause
is unknown, His view Is Numerically
opposed TO that Of Darwin, for he holds
that the struggle for existence some.
times suppresses the species, Instead
Of creating them. And he bases his
views, not on speculation but on actual
observation. According to an account
In Public opinion. the great number OF
MIR de Vrics' attempts TO observe this
phenomenon were unsuccessful, but he
was perfectly successful with the ona- |
gre biennial. This plant was sown in |
the botanical garden OF Amsterdam
and was observed from 1886 to 1900. In |
1887 a new type appeared in 1858 two
new species, and In 1909 in eight gen.
erations de Nrles obtained out Of 80.
600 plants which came from seeds 500
new individuals belonging to seven un-
known species The new species in no
wise resembled the old. they appeared
suddenly without preliminary or inter-
mediary and the results obtained con.
stitute a new and powerful argument
In favor OF the theory Of sudden change
TO account for variation among animals
and plants.
The Darwin theory has led some
writers 10 compare the processes OF
nature TO relentless and puess war.
fare, In Which the weaker always per.
ishes for The benefit Of the stronger:
thus an argument has been found
against faith in a benevolent, mercIul
First Cause I'm the universe. But this
idea, too. Is shown TO be- erroneous. A
Danish naturails, has ascertained how
natura. selection works lie puts It
this way
THE birch Is In possession of a tract.
us branches are open and let dOWa the |
Sunshine TO as base. where the beech
strikes root In the humus formed by the
OF birch leaves. Tho
beech GROWS up. and. being lcnger-
lived u survives and prevails over the
birch, whore seeds can effect no lodg- !
ncnt under the dense lhad9w Of the
beech Only IN sterile or sandy nnCtr,
~ lakes or In mGrshy soil. can the hir'h |
hold It's Ground. We perceive in what
ne hgttle. the victory and the defelt |
onsist 30 single birch perlshcs till lts
lmc is como. but n leaves fewer and
ever offspring, and Il fattcls the soil
or its gurplanter. No tree has been |
irivcn out of rs habitat. those that
survive IN inho1pitable spots have been
here from the first Il Is battle by
Elimination, victory by supnlunung. de-
eat by disappearance. The vcgctal
Elimination thus described Is tho tyre
" all substitution OF one species Tor
mother" h
Nature. then, is not progressing
through a conflict In which The strons
destroy the'Toaker as is too
lften the rule among TIE sayages OF N. !,
human species. The conflicts that do ,
'ccur in nature are abnormal. due 40
abnormal causes that viii not always