WEISMANN'S THEORY OP HEREDITY 61 



for this method is, that only a scientific scholar 

 can reserve his opinion until all the evidence is 

 in and then, if the case demands it, render an 

 open verdict. 



With the vexed problem of heredity, which 

 has been so much to the fore in science for the 

 last twenty-four years, while many great 

 thinkers have distinctly taken sides, it must 

 be remembered that in many points of great 

 importance, the only possible verdict on the 

 contentions of either side, is one of "not 

 proven/' 



But although this controversy has split the 

 evolutionists into two camps, it in no way 

 compromises the evolution theory itself. The 

 controversy is based on the admission of all 

 the parties to it, that evolution is granted, 

 and the question at issue involves only a differ- 

 ence as to how the acknowledged results are 

 accomplished. Evolution is no longer merely 

 a theory, it is an established fact, and is re- 

 cognized as such by all who live in an intel- 

 lectual atmosphere belonging to this side of 

 1859, the year of the publication of the "Origin 

 of Species.'' 



Neither does the result of this discussion 

 threaten, in any way, the validity of the Dar- 

 winian theory of "Natural Selection." All the 

 disputants are avowed Darwinians, and dis- 



