New-York tribune., 1909-07-13
The DARIFIN PENDTLTM.

The celebration of the centenary of the birth
Of Charles Darwin recalls the fact that 1t is
now just about half a century since the puhli-
cation Of his first great controversial work
The Origin of Species" and the further fact
that popular and also largely critical esteem of
his theories has strikingly yibrated from one
extreme 70 the other This latter circumstance
was noted at the very beginning, when the pen
duuIn swung far to the side Of condemnation.
The Origin Of Species" appeared near the end
of 1859, when Darwin was in the fulness of his
powers and fame and it was at once assumed
by many TO be- and TO be considered by him,
his mH0nUHl opus, though he himself declared
it 10 be only the precursor of a still more i'm
portant work Probably the assumption Of
others was more correct than his own promise,
for while his Descent of Man" attracted even
more attention and provoked more controversy
than bis earlier work it really nothing
more than extension Of the latter, applying
TO the human race the theories which he had
already applied to other forms Of life.
One Of the most notable critical discussions Of
''The Origin of Species was that of The Quar-
tery Review" of London. in which the fierce
opposition 10 Darwin's revival and amplifca-
ton of the old theory Of evolution was ex-
pressed. The reviewer could not, Of course,
withhold q high tribute to the characteristic
excellence of Darwin's manner of expression,
but then through many pages he bestowed upon
the great scientists arguments and conclusions
all possible dissent, ridicule and condemnation.
I'VE think IT," he said, difficult to find a theory
fuller of assumptions and of assumptions not
grounded upon alleged facts in nature, but
which are absolutely opposed to all the facts
1--WE have been able 10 observe" And again;
THE geological record is absolutely inconsistent
with the truth Of Mr.. Darwin's theory; and
yet by Mr.. DaTwns own confession this con
''Clusion is fatal 10 his whole argument There
was indeed involved in this criticism an i'm
peachment Of parwin's sanity Of Judgment and
OF his worth as a scientist. Ion what de
manded the reviewer, lis the new theory based?
"On the merest hypothesis. supported by the
most unbounded assumptions. Such
assumptions as these are most dishonorable
"and injurious To science. The whole
world of nature is laid for such a man under
fantastic law Of glamour, and he becomes
capable Of believing anything
When The Origin Of Species WIS supple
mented with The Descent Of Man. the pendu-
Ium, which had swung toward the side of favor.
went further than ever toward the extreme Of
dissent. objurgation and abuse Then all
remember how far il swung in the opposite
direction, and how professed followers Of Oar
win in their zeal went much further than
Darwin himself went, or probably would have
gone. In later years there has been reaction
and a swinging of the pendulum TO and fro.
gradually diminishing the arc Of vibration and
seeking equilibrium. SO that today the popular
and critical estimates OF Darwin and his work
are more just than ever before Bat it is profit
able 10 remember some of those earlier extremes
by way Of warning against too precipitate judg-
ments Of any invention or discovery which may
be announced or any scientific theory which may
be propounded.