192 EVOLUTION AND SOCIAL PROGRESS 



should naturally expect, fully explains every point 

 of similarity without any necessary recourse to 

 evolution. 



It is unwarranted to mention the word "sci- 

 ence" in this connection. There can be question 

 only of guesses and surmises. All must admit 

 that no decisive proof exists of the descent of 

 man's body from any animal precursor. No one 

 would even dream of making the supposition, 

 were it not for the preconceived theories which 

 it is believed must be defended at all costs. This 

 is often done honestly, simply because men have 

 almost from infancy been indoctrinated with these 

 prepossessions, as they had once been taught to 

 believe that the earth was flat, and any evidence 

 to the contrary was laughed out of court. This at- 

 titude of mind can readily be understood, but it 

 should not for one moment be confounded with 

 science. There can be no question of science un- 

 til the evolutionary bias has been completely set 

 aside, its wild conclusions modified or rejected, 

 and men can calmly use their judgment without 

 any of that prejudice which still springs from a 

 false training in a supposedly scientific creed. 

 As the former Parkman professor of anatomy at 

 Harvard, Dr. Thomas Dwight, so truly said of 

 the conditions existing in the university world 

 and outside of it, when he penned his lines, in 

 1911: 



