Excerpt from An Investigation of Evolution in Chrysomelid Beetles of the Genus Leptinotarsa, Vol. 5

Although we hold that the general proof of organic evolution is abundantly self-evident. It is unfortunately all too true that its method is still an open question. The discovery of the method of evolution and the question Of the origin of species is not, if we may judge by the prevailing diversity of opinion among biologists, much nearer a solution than it was when Dar win left it. This does not mean that no advances have been made it simply indicates that the question is deeper, broader, and more difficult to solve than was at first supposed.

The current hypotheses Of the method of evolution, each supported by evidence more or less convincing, and each capable of satisfactorily explaining some phenomena, fail utterly to account for all the phenomena in the origin of species. In other words, current hypotheses seem to be partial truths only, and we are probably far from discovering the final truth concerning the method of evolution. Since the publication of the Origin of Species, the amount of literature concerning the general facts and method of evolution has been stupendous. When we examine this literature, however, we find, unfortunately, that it is far too much the writings of advocates of one or the other Of the current hypotheses and all too little that of the investigator. On the question of the method of evolution biologists have grouped them selves into diiierent schools, each strongly maintaining that his method is the real one. With the facts put forward by Darwin and his contemporaries and such new ones as have since been accumulated, these advocates have built up ingenious pleas in favor of their hypotheses, but have had little time left in which to attempt to penetrate farther into the unknown and get new facts and more conclusive evidence.

Biologists have gradually come to see, however, that any further advance rests, not upon controversial and argumentative writings, but upon new investigations so planned and executed as to bring to light new facts and evidence, whatever they may be, and regardless of how they may affect cur rent hypotheses. Already we are beginning to have the fruit of this new line of work, such as the well planned, clearly executed research of De Vries, in which is presented a large body of new facts and evidence concerning the origin of species in plants. Investigations of this character are, however, the work of years, and a long time must necessarily elapse before any great body of new data and evidence from these studies can be accumulated.

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