144 LESSONS FROM NATURE. [CHAP. VI. 



respect a calamity of our time and country that unbelievers, 

 instead of, as in France, honestly avowing their sentiments, 

 disguise them by studious reticence as Mr. Darwin at first 

 studiously disguised * his views as to the bestiality of man, 

 and as the late Mr. Mill silently allowed himself to be 

 represented to the public as a thorough believer in God. 

 When we consider how energetically atheism manifested 

 itself recently in Paris, its passionate development in Spain 

 with the vigorous atheistic declarations of a late Spanish 

 Colonial Minister, when any one at all acquainted with the 

 Continent must know that it counts its enthusiastic disciples 

 by tens of thousands, it is surely nothing less than solemn 

 triflingf to speak of &quot; difficulty&quot; in recognising facts so patent. 



We have, then, but to look about us to see how very easily 

 such a corruption as that supposed might have taken place, 

 even in nations as highly developed as our own. We have 

 but to imagine the emigration of a few such families, and the 

 extinction of religion in their progeny would be inevitable ; 

 and in order that a belief in ghosts and in evil spirits might 

 coexist with such religious ignorance, we need but suppose 

 some spiritists to be amongst the emigrants in question. 



But a difficulty is put forward as to the rite of sacrifice. 



* In a review of Haeckel in the Academy of January 2, 1875, p. 16, 

 Professor Huxley, with a zeal for Mr. Darwin more zealous than fortunate, 

 objected to a less strong statement of this fact than that here given, as false 

 and calumnious, denying that Mr. Darwin had been &quot; reticent about his views 

 respecting the origin of man.&quot; The statement objected to, however, simply 

 reposed upon Mr. Darwin s own express declaration (in the introduction to his 

 Descent of Man ) as to his own conduct and motives, and, after all, he must 

 have known them better than even the most eager of his disciples. His own 

 words are as follows : &quot; During many years I collected notes on the origin and 

 descent of man, without any intention of publishing on the subject, but 

 rather with the determination not to publish, as I thought that I should thus 

 only add to the prejudices against my views.&quot; If this does not denote 

 deliberate and intentional &quot; reticence,&quot; the words have no meaning. 



f At p. 256 Sir John also says : &quot; If we consider the various aspects of 

 Christianity as understood by different nations, we can hardly fail to perceive 

 that the dignify, and therefore the truth, of their religious beliefs, is in direct 

 relation to the knowledge of science and of the great physical laws by which 

 our universe is governed.&quot; Were this true, Vogt, Buchner, Darwin, and 

 Strauss would exemplify the hiyliest religious belief But, in truth, what can 

 be more preposterous than to assert or imply that physical science has to do 

 with the government of the universe? 



