64 RECAPITULATION AND CONCLUSION. 



imposed by hypotheses ; theories founded upon a small number 

 of facts upset by other unexpected facts ; imaginary influences 

 refuted by observation ; anti-historical legends dispelled by 

 historical monuments ; lame explanations destroyed by physi- 

 ology ; obscure sophisms refuted by logic ; and all this to de- 

 monstrate, not exactly that all races descend from the same 

 pair, but that, strictly speaking, such is not altogether im- 

 possible. 



Whence have the monogenists derived the requisite perse- 

 verance and courage to impose upon their reason such conti- 

 nuous restraint, and to resist the testimonies of observation, 

 science, and history ? 



On analysing their system, we find at every moment two 

 fundamental axioms which serve them as articles of faith, and 

 the evidence of which appears to them sufficient to surmount 

 all other objections. 



These two axioms have served as the premises of an appa- 

 rently irresistible syllogism. 



1. All animals, capable of producing an eugenesic progeny, 

 are of the same species. 



2. All human crossings are eugenesic. 

 Therefore, all men are of the same species. 



The monogenists, convinced of the reality of the premises of 

 this syllogism, thought their doctrine to stand on a solid foun- 

 dation, and defended it with that confidence inspired by con- 

 viction. 



Assailed by pressing objections, constantly obliged to yield, 

 incapable of advancing a step without an immediate retreat, 

 they felt their forces revive by resorting to their syllogism, 

 like Antaeus when he touched the earth. As long as the refuge 

 remained they continued the struggle, though not with ad- 

 vantage, at least with the ardour of faith ; for though faith 

 no longer moves mountains, it still leaves the hope of moving 

 them. 



But these two fundamental propositions, admitted as axioms, 

 do they express the truth ? Can this triumphant syllogism, of 

 which they are the premises, stand ? Is it true that only ani- 

 mals of the same species can produce a prolific progeny ? Is 



