PRESIDENT NEWCOMB. 21 



ing the modern system of explanation tending to this result. On. 

 these, theories, the eye was not made in order to see, nor the ear 

 in order to hear, nor are the numberless adaptations of animated 

 beings to the conditions which surround them in any way the 

 product of design. Absurd as this theory appears at the first 

 glance, and great as is the anxiety to secure its rejection, the 

 question of its truth is to be settled only by a careful scientific 

 study of the facts of nature and the laws of hereditary descent. 

 The principle which is to aid in its settlement is universally ad- 

 mitted in quarters where it is fully understood. We are not to 

 call in a supernatural cause to account for a result which could 

 have been produced by the action of the known laws of nature. 

 The question then is whether these laws of hereditary descent and 

 of natural selection are adequate to account for the gradual growth 

 of such organs as the hand, the eye and the ear, and for all the 

 adaptations which we see in nature. If they are, it would be idle 

 to call in any other cause, except we place it behind the laws, and 

 if we place it behind those laws we must equally place it behind 

 all others. Of course, such a cause lies beyond the field of sight, 

 and does not, therefore, belong to scientific observation. Granting 

 the theory, then, so far as the eye of science can penetrate, the 

 whole result is brought about by laws acting in seemingly blind 

 disregard of consequences. 



Let us now turn once more to the theory of scrutable design, 

 which supposes at least the occasional action of causes which the 

 human intellect can perceive to have been intended to produce 

 certain effects, such as the salvation of the righteous, the punish- 

 ment of the wicked, the warning of the indifferent, or the preser- 

 vation of the race. Studying this theory from the purely scientific 

 standpoint in all the varying forms in which history presents it, 

 we see its distinguishing feature to be the idea of causes acting so 

 as to bring about certain results. 



When Pallas inspired Diomed with renewed strength, and gave 

 superhuman accuracy to his aim, it was in order that he might be 

 able to pierce his Trojan enemies. Ordinary investigation might 

 fail to show that his hand trembled less than usual as he raised his 

 javelin, but the goddess took care that the last tremulous motion 

 of his hand, as the weapon left it, should be in the direction to 

 send it into the breast of the foe. The utterances of the oracles 



