“A Conspiracy of Silence”

Abstract

THE article which I contributed to the September number of the Nineteenth Century, on the Coral Islands of the Pacific, has done what I intended it to do. It has called wide attention to the influence of mere authority in establishing erroneous theories and in retarding the progress of scientific truth. The vehement assault made upon it in the current number of the same review by Prof. Huxley, and the article by Prof. Bonney in this journal, are to me gratifying evidences of success. But both of these writers are entirely wrong in the interpretation they put on a few expressions in my paper. They interpret these expressions; as conveying imputations on the probity and honour of scientific men in the habitual and wilful suppression or discouragement of what they know to be truth. But there is nothing to justify this interpretation. I have made no such accusation, and if any one else were to make it I should join the two indignant Professors in repudiating it. Scientific men are not only as good as other men in this way, but generally a great deal better. Prof. Huxley has been irritated by some “anonymous sermon,” which I have not seen and for which I am not responsible. He admits that it is in this anonymous production that the “slanders” against scientific men have taken the peculiarly offensive form; but he maintains that this unknown writer has been “inspired” by my article on Coral Islands. On the strength of this assumption—which may be true for aught I know—he goes on through some seven pages to dissect certain parts of my paper, and to read into it a great deal that is due to his own excitement and to nothing else.