EVIDENCES OF EVOLUTION. 139 



in the days of Galileo and Tycho Brahe. For Evo- 

 lution, like the heliocentric theory, is in perfect har- 

 mony with all the manifold facts which it is designed 

 to integrate and interpret. How long will it be 

 before it passes from a theory to a demonstration ? 

 Or, will it ever be demonstrated in such wise as to 

 command the assent of all who are capable of weigh- 

 ing evidence, and discriminating between a scientific 

 fallacy and a legitimate scientific induction ? ' These 

 are questions which only the future can answer. 

 Judging, however, by the progress which has been 

 made during the past half century towards the solu- 

 tion of many of the problems which have been dis- 

 cussed in this chapter, it does not seem unreasonable 

 to express the belief that it is only a question of time, 

 and probably not a very long time, until the theory 

 of organic Evolution shall be as firmly established as 

 is now the Copernican one of the solar system. 



