364 EVOLUTION, OLD AND NEW. 



out ; but I do not think that any reader who has not 

 been compelled to go somewhat deeply into the ques- 

 tion would find out that this is the real gist of the 

 objection which Mr. Darwin is appearing to combat. 

 A general impression is left upon the reader that some 

 very foolish objectors are being put to silence, that Mr. 

 Darwin is the most candid literary opponent in the 

 world, and as just as Aristides himself; but if the 

 unassisted reader will cross-question himself what it is 

 all about, I shall be much surprised if he is ready with 

 his answer. 



" Others " to resume our criticism on Mr. Darwin's 

 defence " have objected that the term implies con- 

 scious choice in the animals which become modified, 

 and it has been even urged that as plants have no voli- 

 tion, natural selection is not applicable to them ! " 



This unfortunately must have been the objection 

 of a slovenly, or wilfully misapprehending reader, 

 and was unworthy of serious notice. But its intro- 

 duction here tends to draw the reader from the true 

 ground of complaint, which is that at the end of Mr. 

 Darwin's book we stand much in the same place as we 

 did when we started, as regards any knowledge of what 

 is the " origin of species." 



" In the literal sense of the word, no doubt, natural 

 selection is a false term." 



Then why use it when another, and, by Mr. Darwin's 

 own admission, a " more accurate " one is to hand in 

 " the survival of the fittest " ? * This term is not appre- 

 ciably longer than natural selection. Mr. Darwin may 

 * Origin of Species,' p. 49. 



