ORGANIC E VOL UTION. 83 



fossil species, further facts relating to geo- 

 graphical distribution, to morphology, classifica- 

 tion, embryology, or any of the other lines of 

 evidence which have been mentioned ; no further 

 evidence the same in kind is now competent to 

 raise in degree the probability which has 

 already been raised, as far as from its very 

 nature as a probability it can be raised. 



I have no doubt, however, that the principal 

 obstacle which the doctrine of evolution encounters 

 in the popular mind is not one of reason, but of 

 sentiment. It is thought that the conception of 

 man being a lineal descendant of the monkey is 

 a conception which is degrading to the dignity 

 of the former animal. Now this obstacle being, 

 as I have said, a matter of feeling or sentiment, 

 as such I am not able to meet it. If you think 

 that man is shown to be any less human because 

 his origin is now shown to have been derivative, 

 I cannot change that decision on your part ; I 



