4 6;
to me to be putting the cart before the horse. Let us
try to make this clear by an illustration. Let us suppose
that men had ceased to paint pictures, and that they
contented themselves with reproducing existing paintings
by the process of chromo-lithography. Let us further
suppose that a controversy arose as to the authenticity of
a painting supposed to be from the hand of an ancient
master. The logical process would surely be first to prove
that the work was hand-painted, and then to give reasons
for believing that it was from some particular hand. But
what should we say if the expert were to give some reasons
of little weight for the belief that it was the work of a
particular artist, and were then to test that assertion
by proofs that it was not a chromo-lithograph, but that it
had been hand-painted ?
In the same spirit Mr. Darwin treats the difficulties
accompanying the arguments for Organic Evolution as
though they were the difficulties especially belonging
to the theory of Natural Selection.
“ In considering the theory of Natural Selection he will assuredly
meet with weighty difficulties, but these difficulties relate chiefly to
subjects—such as the degree of perfection of the geological record,
the means of distribution, the possibility of transitions in organs, &c.
—on which we are confessedly ignorant ; nor do we know how
ignorant we are. If we are much more ignorant than is generally
supposed, most of these difficulties wholly disappear.”—(The
Variation, vol. /., ft. ij.)
Here the chief difficulties in accepting the fact of
Organic Evolution are regarded as the chief difficulties to
the particular method of Organic Evolution. This treat
ment of the subject creates the impression of extreme
candour; and it may even seem to the eager opponent
that Mr. Darwin is giving himself and his cause away.
But in recognising these difficulties he is only doing what
all believers in Organic Evolution ought to do, quite apart