Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-12-15
OUTSIDE POINT OF VIEW

If one can or does accept the
theory of evolution where shall we
stop in it's application? Applied to
creation of fall forms, earth, universe
or man, some of us easily accept the
arguments of the scientists. We don't
exactly like the monkey idea of pro-
genitors, but still, if everybody is in
the same class, there is no occasion
for boasting. If your family tree
shows monkeys hanging thereon by
candal appendages, we have the salts
faction of knowing the branches of
other family trees are so ornamented.
But while no attempt is here made of
any learned argument, for which this
| writer is far from being fitted, it does
seem as though there is going on in
this world an evolution of thought,
hard to describe, much less to explain
the cause thereof.
For it is true, it is "A fact. We think
differently from our forbears. We
reason from a different standpoint.
We admit at the beginning of dis
cussion different premises than Gid our
Gathers. /. is not conceit to say the
world today starts think n;s cam
paign many degrees higher than for
merly. We admit much thg. for CELL
turtles was discussed, denied and osse.l
apparently disproved. For instance
take the slavery question. Even In
our time is slavery right or wrong,
has been seriously and honestly dis
cussed There is no argument con-
corning it in the civilized world to-
day. It's wrong. We have evolution
lied this thought.
There is a we'll established theory
TODAY that such thing as inherited
mental qualities are among the i'm
possibilities. Many go farther and
deny the predisposition to inherit
mental faculties. They are all the re-
sult of education ard environment.
While the theory of heredity now is
gradually giving away to the theory
of predisposition, this insofar as re-
fers to bodily disease, how many Will
admit that Daniel Webster could give
to the world a son or daughter with
a. predisposition to greatness. On the
contrary it is an almost accepted ak
iom that greatness breeds common
place, if not degeneracy. or course
the historical career of some famllles
disproves this statement, but In
general way 1t is true. Naroleons 90
not produce Napoleons.
Nevertheless while individual cases
or families seldom show any instances
of inherited mental faculties this
much can be claimed. AS whole the
human family does now think on
higher plane With the continuation
of wars, the apparent methoa OIL con-
Quoting them is much the SAM. in re-
snlts while even trivial caus-
es today precipitate the battles
of nations. we certainly treat the
wounded more humanely. we are
passing just now through an exposure
of national, l. e., almost universal
graft but where are, the defenders OF
the system There was time not SO
long ago when might made right. IL
does today, but who defends the doc
trine theoretically. We still deny 10
women many of the rights she some
times claims. but when we begin to ar
que concerning those rights, do not
start out with the Old Testament doc
trine. Do we now even quote Paul.
so If would seem it is not a far
fetched theory to claim even evolution
of thought. 1t goes without saying
present conditions in family, commun-
ity and state are the results OF
thought. The brain, single or IN conn
mon is used before the action occurs.
And does not Our impulse. our thought,
orr intent, or resolve in this twentieth
century have for it's initial point
starting place, that sweeps away much
ir not all of the accepted Things OF the
past. 1t is absurd to claim that we
think better than our forefathers did
Not that we are near perfection, out
are we not actually starting in com
mon thought where they left off. Or
to state it again. isn't there such
a thing as evolution of mind.
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