REFLECTIONS AND CONCLUSION. 397 



But while we cheerfully accord to these great savants 

 all the encomiums to which they are entitled, we 

 should not withhold from their great antagonists, 

 Pouchet and Bastian, the meed of praise which their 

 researches have earned for them. The latter were 

 mistaken in their views, it is true ; they were van- 

 quished in the controversy which they carried on so 

 ably ; but, by the very force and originality of their 

 objections, they contributed materially, though in- 

 deed indirectly, towards putting the truth in a bolder 

 relief than it would otherwise have received. Had 

 not Pasteur met with the contradictions he did, had 

 he not been obliged to confute objections of all kinds, 

 objections presented in the name of chemistry, ob- 

 jections urged in the name of biology, objections 

 advanced in the name of metaphysics, he would 

 undoubtedly have discontinued his investigations 

 much sooner than he did, and would have rested 

 satisfied with his earlier and simpler proofs of the 

 untenableness of spontaneous generation. 



All glory, therefore, to Galileo and Pasteur for 

 their brilliant achievements! But while sounding 

 the praises of the victors, let us not forget the 

 honors due to those who battled long and gallantly 

 only to suffer defeat in the end. By the very per- 

 sistence and stubbornness of their contest, they en- 

 hanced not only the splendor of the results obtained 

 by their conquerors, but they also labored effectu- 

 ally, albeit indirectly, for the attainment of the same 

 object which was had in view by their antagonists 

 the truth, the advancement of science, and the plac- 

 ing of it on a surer and firmer foundation. 



