THE, PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS 35 



there, attempts at compromise, retreat, loss of old entrenched 

 positions, democracy in the ascendency, autocracy waning, final 

 retreat before the overwhelming power of democracy, and de- 

 struction of autocratic power. 



The final great battle occurred recently, a portion of it within 

 memory; the battle over evolution, in the 19th century. This 

 chapter, covering a period from the latter part of the 18th cen- 

 tury to the latter part of the 19th, is a chapter interesting beyond 

 compare. The prolog was the preparation of the world for the 

 "Origin of Species." The great contribution of Darwin and his 

 coworkers was not that they compelled attention to the theory of 

 evolution but that they compelled recognition of the right to 

 think. Buffon, Erasmus Darwin, Lamark, received attention in 

 their day that was only scant in comparison with their desserts. 

 They were not so compelling as Darwin nor was the world ready. 

 In fact the world was not able to receive them. Evolutionists 

 and anti-evolutionists reached a short period of truce in the cata- 

 clysm theory as advocated by Cuvier and others. But forces were 

 quietly working that were preparing for a mighty offensive move- 

 ment. James Hutton in Scotland, the obscure surveyor William 

 Smith in England, and the mighty Lyell had been accumulating 

 the forces that were to effect the annihilation of the cataclysm 

 theory. The Principles of Geologj^ appearing in 1830-32 and the 

 Vestiges of Creation in 1844 completed the preparation of the 

 way for the Origin of Species in 1859. The battle that followed 

 after 1859 was violent, fast and furious. But the forces on the 

 side of democracy of thought were speedily victorious. Now, a 

 man may think according to his own inherent ability. 



The history of law and order and government has no chapter 

 more interesting or more vital than this chapter in science. Yet 

 what percentage of intelligent, of educated men are fully con- 

 versant with it. The status of democracy of thought is of fun- 

 damental importance to democracy of government. Recognizing 

 as I do the necessity of a knowledge of the history of political 

 theories and of nations and governments, yet in my opinion a 

 knowledge of the history of thought struggles, defeats and vic- 

 tories, as recorded in the history of science is also an essential 

 part of mental equipment. Whether it be from the standpoint 

 of culture or from that of the practical, a knowledge of the his- 

 tory of the evolution of science should have a place in fhe cur- 

 ricula of our colleges and universities. The modern physician 



