The Origin of Human Races and the Antiquity of Man Deduced from Natural Selection

beings as well as lower animals. Having made this criticism, I hope these observations will not be seen as opposing the theory of the transmutation the conversion or transformation of one species into another; an early term for evolution of man from lower animals. That theory is very likely true and will undoubtedly be supported by facts. Whether Darwinian theory specifically can assist us is a separate question; in the meantime, papers like Mr. Wallace’s are extremely valuable. I regret that his proposals have been so remarkably misrepresented tonight. Darwin's entire theory seems destined to endure a period of complete misunderstanding and misrepresentation by the general public. Indeed, the sheer volume of misrepresentation and the varying versions of it being weighed actually seem to be evidence in its favor.

Regarding Mr. Burke’s remarks, I will not keep you long. Mr. Burke began by saying he would establish three general propositions. I did not understand what they were, but I mentally categorized his remarks into three groups: facts I accept, facts I deny, and facts I did not understand.

I will start with the facts I accept. He told us that an animal like a dog or a wolf never produces a cow. Mr. Burke and I agree perfectly on that, and I am sure Mr. Wallace and Mr. Darwin would too. He also said he never knew a nerve to develop into a muscle, lungs, or blood vessels. Neither have I; I believe those are the two main facts from Mr. Burke that I accept without reservation.

But then he told us what the fundamental laws of the universe are regarding humanity. I’m afraid I don’t know them, and I humbly doubt any of us do—we are here tonight as a society to try to discover the laws that regulate human existence. Personally, I do not know what those fundamental laws—which may be discovered in the future—might be.

Mr. Burke also compared man to a machine, using the old analogy of a man and a watch, arguing that if you damage the mainspring The primary spring that powers a clock; here, a reference to William Paley's "Watchmaker" argument for divine design certain consequences follow. Gentlemen, the time is long gone when such an argument could hold any value in biology. We know that nothing in nature that lives and moves bears any resemblance to a machine.

Mr. Burke claimed there are certain limits regarding whether hybrids offspring of two different races or species are fertile within the human species. I must deny this. I do not know if Mr. Burke, who claims to know the "fundamental laws of the universe," has special information, but all the evidence from Broca Paul Broca, founder of the Anthropological Society of Paris and the leading French authorities—or their American colleague, Dr. Nott Josiah C. Nott, an American physician and anthropologist known for his work on human types—shows clearly that we cannot yet predict the limits of hybrid fertility. I have no doubt the time will come when we can do so; a translated work by the secretary of our sister society in Paris will soon be presented to us, providing known facts on the subject. Until then, I suggest it is a waste of time to discuss it.

Mr. BURKE: I can only say, gentlemen, that I was obligated to provide an argument, but I was not obligated to provide you with the intelligence to understand it.