WHAT IS DARWINISM? 11 



thought. Biichner, Moleschott, Vogt, hold that 

 matter is eternal and indestructible ; that mat- 

 ter and force are inseparable : the one cannot 

 exist without the other. What, it is asked, is 

 motion without something moving ? What is 

 electricity without an electrified body ? What 

 is attraction without molecules attracting each 

 other ? What is contractibility without muscu- 

 lar fibre, or secretion without a secreting gland ? 

 One combination of molecules exhibits the phe- 

 nomena of life, another combination exhibits 

 the phenomena of mind. All this was taught 

 by the old heathen philosopher more than two 

 thousand years ago. That this system denies 

 the existence of God, of mind as a thinking 

 substance distinct from matter, and of the pos- 

 sibility of the conscious existence of man after 

 death, are not inferences drawn by opponents, 

 but conclusions openly avowed by its advocates. 



Herbert Spencer's New Philosophy. 



Mr. Darwin calls Spencer our " great phi- 

 losopher." His is the speculating mind of the 

 new school of science. This gives to his opin- 

 ions special interest, although no one but him- 

 self is to be held responsible for his peculiar 

 views, except so far as others see fit to avow 



