Page:The World's Most Famous Court Trial - 1925.djvu/192

188 it and we do not fear all the truth that they can present as facts. We are ready. We are ready. We feel we stand with progress. We feel we stand with science. We feel we stand with intelligence. We feel we stand with fundamental freedom in America. We are not afraid. Where is the fear? We meet it, where is the fear? We defy it, we ask your honor to admit the evidence as a matter of correct law, as a matter of sound procedure and as a matter of justice to the defense in this case. (Profound and continued applause.)

The bailiff raps for order.

Is the Rev. Dr. Jones or the Rev. Dr. Cartwright in the house? An old resident of Dayton, Mr. Blevins, has passed away and his funeral will be this afternoon at 4:30, those wishing to attend may do so. Pass out quietly.

The Court—Col. Darrow, did you say you had something you wished to say?

Mr. Darrow—No, I just wanted about that much, to try a little more to specifically answer the questions you asked Mr. Malone. I wouldn't think of trespassing or making a speech as I have explained to the attorney-general. Your question as I understood it was whether the doctrine of evolution was consistent with the story of Genesis that God created man out of the dust of the earth—whether the doctrine of evolution that he came up from below a long period of time is consistent with it. What I want to say won't be more than that much. We say that God created man out of the dust of the earth is simply a figure of speech. The same language is used in reference to brutes many times in the Scriptures and it doesn't mean necessarily that he created him as a boy would roll up a spitball out of dust—out of hand—but Genesis, or the Bible says nothing whatever about the method of creation.

The Court—The processes?

Mr. Darrow—It might have been by any other process, that is all.

The Court—So your theory—your opinion, Colonel, is that God might have created him by a process of growth?

Mr. Darrow—Yes.

The Court—Or development?

Mr. Darrow—Yes.

The Court—The fact that he created him did not manufacture him like a carpenter would a table?

Mr. Darrow—Yes, that is all. That is what we claim.

The Court—You recognize God behind the first spark of life?

Mr. Darrow—You are asking me whether I do?

The Court—Your theory—no, not you.

Mr. Darrow—We expect most of our witnesses to take that view. As to me I don't pretend to have any opinion on it.

The Court—My only concern is that as to your theory of it.

Mr. Darrow—So far as this question is concerned, we claim there is no conflict because it doesn't mean making man like a carpenter would make him, but that it is perfectly consistent to say that he was made by a process—perfectly consistent with the Bible—not inconsistent with it—that he was made out of the dust of the earth. Animals were made out of the dust of the earth and everything was made out of the dust of the earth and that had nothing to do with the process, but simply gives a general statement and there is nothing in the Bible which shows the process.

The Court—Colonel, let me ask you another question. You have stated your theory—is it your theory that man and beast had a common origin of life? Does your theory teach that men developed directly from that common origin without first developing into the form of any other animal or that he developed in the one form of life or one physical existence and then passed from that to another form of physical existence—or what is your theory?

Mr. Darrow—The theory of evolution as I understand it, and which I believe—it will only take a moment because I have no right to make any