Evolution

803* , Zu dein Erdelemente , weichet in dem Magnetlamua icolirt thitig ist , kömmt endlich das Wasaerelement , und durch. dieUiMentificirung beider zu einem Leibe geht ein neuer Procefa hervor» nprpr uU Gheqjaiiiua' frktniit tobeti: go3. Zum Weaen dea Chemiamna concurriren nur w«i Elemente, und zwar die swei unterften oder einpoligen , das S4ickftoffeIement und das Sauerftoff« Clement, beide auf ihren Ursußand fturückgeföhrt, auf die AlcaUtät in m Ntron, di6k>Aciditftt in der Salaöäure. 04. Da der Orund df chemischen Action nur in der Potenzirung sweier Element auf ihren Ursu« (Und befteht, so muß diese Actiön erfterbent sobald 4ie Sjchäf foiig df neuen» aecnndaren Eieaientes erfolgt, itt. Penn, die Sgrapnoog . gleht sich we-fai 4ep Zweien , ttnid da nur 4ie Zwei vorhj|fi4ea sppd so kann nach der Ausgleichung Keini? neue Sf am«. Alling 'entbeui welple d9c|KGnaJUercheii»imB||i|% ictiou ist;, t Das Bjesulut dea chem|8<;heii Processea te mit* biq, Tod; 1 sowohl darum » als fich wtl er ei« blof &weie)emexitiscber Proceß ist» kam» er ni«|i| 4as letJite Ziel der Evolution des PlMeten sein« 805. De iüchfte Stnffe » auf welphe .die Omeai« des Planeten steigt ist , dalis sie dem au7etemtati schen Proce§se nach daa dritte irdiCche EknvMt beir.

8s8- Jeder Organiamas iat nach den Gesefsen des Galvanismua prpdvckt, nach dem Geaeue der Triplicität. 829. Wie der Erdmagntiamaa zwar nitr einer ist, aber in diesem eine Unendlichkeit von Magneten Terschlossen liegen, die im Verfolge des Erdenlebens hervortreten» so liegen auch in dem grotaen Erdgalvanismoa unendlich viele mitergeordnete gal* vaDische Triplidtäten vecrchlossen» welche sich nach nhd nach durch di Verfolg der Evolution abldaea und ftatt des univfalen Galvanismua eine Unend« Uchkeit von individoalen darfteilen. Der nniveraale Galvaniamnalcann nicht aein», oline sich als eine Unendlichkeit von individaaleif Gal« vanismen zvL setzen. So ist der Magnetismus nur mit dem Netse der Meullgftnge» ao daa Abaolato nur mit der Allheit aeiner endlichen Poaitionen. 830. Die Zahl der Organismen ist unendlich» ao« wohl im Zugleich- ala auch im Nacheinander -Seist. 831« Ein Organismus iat ein Individuum. 83- Individuum is4» yas eine Stoffe in der Pia* netenentwicklnng beseichnet. Auch daS Mineral- 13 _ retcli hat lAdiMdoen. Denp das MiCchnngsTerhiltaib der cbemtCeheii Stoffe ift kein willkürliches. . Die Fählerse 0in4 tt bestimmte Miachcng \*t>ii Schw fei und Spiebglas, und dadurch Inividnum. Dai dieser Mirchmig anfällig beigemirchte Silber» Blei» Knpfer ändert nicbta an der Individualiittt» nnd be« weiCtt keinefweges eine Mischbrkeit der Materien in alle» denkbaren Zahlen. £ine solche Mirchuug wl« re nur eiia Oemeng. o scheint die IndiYlduaKtIt des Rotfagüldens in der bestimmtjen Mifohnng/von Schwefel und Arsenik (vielleicht noch Spiefsglas) SU beftehen. Das Silber ist nnr beigemengt» daher in allen 2hlen vorbanden* Ein gleiches gilt von dm Kiesen und den Gelanacn.

Considerations of this nature, by their tendency to generalization, impress a nobler character on the physical description of the globe, and enable us to understand how the aspect of the scenery, that is to say, the impression produced upon the mind by the physiognomy of the vegetation, depends upon the local distribution, the number, and the luxuriance of growth of the vegetable forms predominating in the general mass. The catalogues of organized beings to which was formerly given the pompous title of 'Systems of Nature', present us with an admirably connected arrangement by analogies of structure, either in the perfected development of these beings, or in the different phases which, in accordance with the views of a spiral evolution, affect in vegetables the leaves, bracts, calyx, corolla and fructifying organs; and in animals, with more or less symmetrical regularity, the cellular and fibrous tissues, and their perfect or but obscurely developed articulations. But these pretended systems of nature, however ingenious their mode of classification may be, do not show us organic beings as they are distributed in groups throughout our planet, according to their different relations of latitude and elevation above the level of the sea, and to climatic influences, which are owing to general and often very remote causes. The ultimate aim of physical geography is, however, as we have already said, to recognise unity in the vast diversity of phenomena, and by the exercise of thought and the combination of observations, to discern the constancy of phenomena in the midst of apparent changes. In the exposition of the terrestrial portion of the Cosmos, it will occasionally be necessary to descend to very special facts; but this will only be in order to recall the connection existing between the actual distribution of organic beings over the globe, and the laws of the ideal classification by natural families, analogy of internal organization and progressive evolution.

Thus the Democratic idea, in affirming the peo- ple's sovereignty, does in effect reduce government into a mere public ministry or service. It utterly explodes the old conceptions of government, as having an authority derived from some other source than the people. It is only while imper- fectly evolved as in this country, in which not the whole people, but an ill-defined majority, rules, that it tolerates institutions which exhibit some faint remnant of authority. Oar institutions do not, as yet, by any means, perfectly incorporate the Democratic idea. They exhibit a far more ad- vanced development of it than has been attained anywhere else, but still fall very far short of giving it perfect expression. The great advantage, as it appears to me, which our position claims, is this : that we publicly recognise the worth of the Demo- cratic idea, and stand committed by our past his- tory, and our present tendencies, to allow it a com- plete evolution. It cannot be doubted by any attentive observer of our national and state legis- lation, that the tendency among us, from the be- ginning, has been to curtail the force of govern- ment, to reduce its legislative branches into a complete docility to the popular will, and make the executive branch more and more purely execu- tive. And if this be undeniable, if such be the continual operation of the Democratic idea, you will readily admit that its tendency is to destroy

The principle of Democracy, which legitimates this result, is enthroned in our polity, and what is more, vivifies the newest affections and thoughts of all people. It is not a conventionality of man. It is an actual tendency of the Divine Providence, 1* 10 DEMOCRACY AND ITS ISSUES. felt all along the progress of human history, and marching now in open day to a complete and tri- umphant evolution. Happy are they, therefore, who no longer think of resisting or impeding it. But, above all, happy are they who betimes joyfully accept it with all the merely political changes it in- duces, believing that the paternal Wisdom, whose instrument it is, designs only good and no evil from it, and that in lieu of every edifice removed. He will build up another so glorious that the former will never again come into mind.

Digitized by Google MINERAL EVOLUTION Creator and creature, God and man, are undis- tinguishable one from the other. And Nature in her earliest or fluid beginnings does but exactly symbolize this indistinction. All things are then chaotically blent. Confusion reigns: that is to say, there exists a sensible fusing together and indistinction of all forms of individuality, of all forms of life or consciousness, under strictly uni- versal forms. And the entire scope of what we call history is to reduce this chaos to order, to lift up this sobbing and prostrate universe into beautiful and joyous and individual form, to train this mute and melancholy and boundless nature into the free and glorified lineaments of human personality or character.

The mineral form then is the earliest or lowest evolution of the me. It is the me in an intensely inert state, in a passive state or state of rest simply. It is the me gdtting place or position first, in order to its subsequent experience of growth in the vegetable form, motion in the ani- mal, and action in the human form. We may say that it is the me in a foetal state, conceived but not yet born. Mineral life bears the same rela- tion to vegetation and animation, that the foetus bears to fully developed bodily life. Being desti- tute as yet of sensation, of sensibility to out- ward existence, it is of course devoid of visible form or individuality, and loses itself in the womb of the common mother. But the phenomena of Digitized by Google OP CONSCIOUS LIFE

A battery charged with water alone, instead of acid, is constant in its action, but the quantity of electricity it develops is comparatively very small. Mr. Cross, of Broomfield in Somersetshire, kept a battery of this kind in full force during twelve months. M. Becquerel had invented an instrument for comparing the intensities of the different kinds of electricity by means of weights; but, as it is impossible to make the comparison with Voltaic electricity produced by the ordinary batteries, on account of the perpetual variation to which the intensity of the current is liable, he has constructed a battery which affords a continued stream of electricity of uniform power, but it is also of very feeble force. The current is produced by the chemical combination of an acid with an alkali. Metallic contact is not necessary for the production of Voltaic electricity, which is entirely due to chemical action. The intensity of the Voltaic electricity is in proportion to the intensity of the affinities concerned in its production, and the quantity produced is in proportion to the quantity of matter which has been chemically active during its evolution. Dr. Faraday considers this definite production to be one of the strongest proofs that electricity is of chemical origin.

PART II. LAWS OF THE KNOWABLE.—A statement of the ultimate principles discernible throughout all manifestations of the Absolute—those highest generalizations now being disclosed by Science which are severally true not of one class of phenomena but of _all_ classes of phenomena; and which are thus the keys to all classes of phenomena.[1] [_In logical order should here come the application of these First Principles to Inorganic Nature. But this great division it is proposed to pass over: partly because, even without it, the scheme is too extensive; and partly because the interpretation of Organic Nature after the proposed method, is of more immediate importance. The second work of the series will therefore be_—] THE PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY. VOL. I. PART I. THE DATA OF BIOLOGY.—Including those general truths of Physics and Chemistry with which rational Biology must set out. II. THE INDUCTIONS OF BIOLOGY.—A statement of the leading generalizations which Naturalists, Physiologists, and Comparative Anatomists, have established. III. THE EVOLUTION OF LIFE.—Concerning the speculation commonly known as “The Development Hypothesis”—its _à priori_ and _à posteriori_ evidences. VOL. II.

V. PHYSICAL SYNTHESIS.—An attempt to show the manner in which the succession of states of consciousness conforms to a certain fundamental law of nervous action that follows from the First Principles laid down at the outset. VOL. II. VI. SPECIAL ANALYSIS.—As at present published, but further elaborated by some additional chapters. VII. GENERAL ANALYSIS.—As at present published, with several explanations and additions. VIII. COROLLARIES.—Consisting in part of a number of derivative principles which form a necessary introduction to Sociology.[3] THE PRINCIPLES OF SOCIOLOGY. VOL. I. PART I. THE DATA OF SOCIOLOGY.—A statement of the several sets of factors entering into social phenomena—human ideas and feelings considered in their necessary order of evolution; surrounding natural conditions; and those ever complicating conditions to which Society itself gives origin. II. THE INDUCTIONS OF SOCIOLOGY.—General facts, structural and functional, as gathered from a survey of Societies and their changes: in other words, the empirical generalizations that are arrived at by comparing different societies, and successive phases of the same society. III. POLITICAL ORGANIZATION.—The evolution of governments, general and local, as determined by natural causes; their several types and metamorphoses; their increasing complexity and specialization; and the progressive limitation of their functions.