Evening star., 1925-05-24

~ NoLCTloN today Is meeting the same
- opposition that ignorance and conserv-
atism have set up against scientific
- knowledge in all ages. 1t is meeting z
what Copernicus met. But one, whether
scientist religionist, today doubts that Co
perncus' theory that the sun is the center of
the solar system has been proved. 1t is meet
ing what CALLED met But of ordinary
intelligence now doubts the fundamentals of
experimental physics that Calico established.
Another generation will look back in amaze
ment when ii sees that any one in this gener-
alton undertook to stop the growth and the
development of the theory of evolution. If
the teaching of evolution should be excluded
from the public schools then all books treating
of evolution should be barred from the public
libraries. and this would mean the exclusion
of practically every book science written
in the last 80 wears
IL would be much logical to follow the
precedent of the past, when they burned the
hated books and the hated authors in one pile
What is known as Darwinism-now under
attack-referS only to one theory of evolution
the growth and development of various plan
and animals from earlier structures.
Held Aid to Understanding
The theory of evolution applies to every
part Of the universe. 1t holds good the
infinite number of stars. perhaps billions of
miles away, and to the tinest microbe which
: even the microscope cannot always reveal. II
aids in understanding the history of and
stars and the whole cosmos. AS an eXplana
tory principle il brings order of infinite
chaos.
Evolution helps us to understand the growth
and development of the mind and all its
activities, of mans theories of life. of polit-
cal systems and religious philosophers
Through all organic and inorganic life il
shows the constant development of one form
out of some earlier former conception
There is really nothing new about the
eral theory Of evolution which some people
would attempt To suppress. The idea has
been III the world since The days Of the Greek
philosophers. Great men Of all ages and all
creeds have seen in the cosmic life and
intellectual life constant change and the
plain development of one thing of some
thing older. No one can tell what result viii
come out of the simplest cause. From the
stimulus of a single thought there may grow
and develop endless numbers of ideas and in
ventions that were not dreamed of in the
original thought
Purpose of Darwin.
The work Of Darwin was to apply this
theory Of evolution to organic life. to test it
and to prove ii by large a body of facts
to place it beyond dispute. He fortified the
theory strongly that in 20 years his oriEi-
nal theory has remained unchanged. except
in minor details. He laid the foundation so
securely and the evidences complete that
there is probably scientist in the world who
doubts the fact Of evolution.
All intelligent people kfew that there
many plants and animals in existence
that have come upon the earth within
paratively recent times The most striking
ample of this is himself. Some kind of
animal life can conservatively be said to have
been in existence hundred million years. 1t
.ould be conservative to say that the origin
of man is shown to have begun more than
million years ago. But man is only one OF
a number of forms and species of later origin.
Either these forms and species We're special