The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-27
nnAL ryoLurIor.

e41&4 .yCn<O AsOs~s N That the DArwihian theory of the evolution of man still finds strong be- lievcrs and advocates is a fact what. ever others mak think about 1t. That there was no creation of fully developed human beinss. but that life began with . protopiasm. or something of the. kind, and gradually came up through the va rious forms of animal life until 1t -cul- minated in the present form of human- ity--that. in brief, is about the theory held by the advocates of, evolution. And. as in everything else, the believ- CTS in the theory can bring up no end of arguments to prove their position. Volumes have been written and printed in support of the doctrine. and. as we have said, there are plenty to endorse, and hold fast to it.
 But however we may discredit or even ridicuie the idea of actual physical ascent from almost nothing, there has been an evolution of another sort that is as wonderful as the Darwinian could be. and that is the evolution ef civilization. when we % back but q few centuries and study the almost savage state of the ancestors of the English speaking race and compare their lives, habits and manners with those of the present day, we are forced to admit that in one respect at least the evolutionary doctrine has something to stand on. In science and in n,echan- 'ica in invention and in discovery; in short, in almost everything that makes for the betterment of humanity. the advance and improvement has been almost as great as anything that has been claimed for physical evolution.
 We have been led to these reflections by reading this paragraph in The Bos- ton Globe:
 The Japanese are prenaring for what ia! other nations would designaae 4 To,Lh esh,s ol'i4n on aprii GI ia i psis. Ali foreign aovern- ments and peoples" they state. are in ernment % mi viii run the exhibition. which insures that the bills will be paid promptly. whether the receipts are large or small.
 If we take the time and trouble to study Japan, and the Japanese people a little. we will find that here is an ex- ample of evolution that is almost startling in its extent. It IS true that we have really known Japan but about half e century. When Commodore Matthew c. Perry. in ls5s-4 gained an initiatory entrance to the island and entered into preliminary treaty with the Government, the country and peo- pie were practically as unknown ss any portion of Africa Is at present. It was closed land Of mystery and ccn- jecture to nearly all the rest of the world. Commodore Perry opened the deor. as it were. and we peeped in. But even after the door had been opened. the process of evolution was extremely slow. It is only within the present generation that Japan has seemed to awake from the sleep of cen- turies and stretch her limbs as giant aroused from slumber. The Japanese were evidently 8 suspicious people. They had so long enjoyed seclusion from the outer world that they were slow to change, and for a long time persisted in excluding themselves as much as possible from observation or Interruption.
 It is only within the present genera tion that Japan has exhibited perhaps the most wonderful development that the world has ever, seen. Even quar- ter of century ago the little island nation was looked on with indifference, if not with contempt. Few thought there was or ever would be anything more in them than a peaceful, quiet and thoroughly unprogressive people who would go on the old life and have no desire or ambition to take a promi- nent place in the worlds affairs.
 And now Japan is actual va wonder among the nations It has almost at bound become one of the world powers respected by all and no doubt feared by some. The Japanese have shown themselves an ambitious people and a lighting people. They are as fearless in battle as they are ready and re- sourceful in preparing for it. The Japanese army will fight to finish. re- gardless of danger. The Japanese navy is already powerful and becoming more so. In short, Japan is power to be respected by the whole world.
 But it is not solely in her wonderful development as a military power that Japan is a marvellous member of the family of nations. In all the scientific and mechanical arts the people are be- coming among the foremost on earth Patience, perseverance and ingenuity are pre-emtnent characteristics of the race, and by the exercise of these. they are attracting notice everywhere. We have no hesitation about predicting that If their design of a World's Fair is "a rrted ant those who visit it will en-