156 THE DESCENT OF MAN. [Part I. 



felt some degree of love ; they would have warned each 

 other of danger, and have given mutual aid in attack or 

 defence. All this implies some degree of sympathy, fidel- 

 ity, and courage. Such social qualities, the paramount 

 importance of which to the lower animals is disputed by 

 no one, were no doubt acquired by the progenitors of man 

 in a similar manner, namely, through natural selection, 

 aided by inherited habit. When two tribes of primeval 

 man, living in the same country, came into competition, 

 if the one tribe included (other circumstances being 

 equal) a greater number of courageous, sympathetic, and 

 faithful members, who were always ready to warn each 

 other of danger, to aid and defend each other, this tribe 

 would without doubt succeed best and conquer the other. 

 Let it be borne in mind how all-important, in the never- 

 ceasing wars of savages, fidelity and courage must be. 

 The advantage which disciplined soldiers have over un- 

 disciplined hordes follows chiefly from the confidence 

 which each man feels in his comrades. Obedience, as Mr. 

 Bagehot has well shown, 6 is of the highest value, for any 

 form of government is better than none. Selfish and con- 

 tentious people will not cohere, and without coherence 

 nothing can be effected. A tribe possessing the above 

 qualities in a high degree would spread and be victorious 

 over other tribes; but in the course of time it would, 

 judging from all past history, be in its turn overcome by 

 some other and still more highly-endowed tribe. Thus 

 the social and moral qualities would tend slowly to ad- 

 vance and be diffused throughout the world. 



But it may be asked, How within the limits of the 

 same tribe did a large number of members first become 

 endowed with these social and moral qualities, and how 

 was the standard of excellence raised ? It is extremely 



6 See a remarkable series of articles on Physics and Politics in the 

 Fortnightly Review,' Nov. 1867; April 1, 1868 ; July 1, 1869. 



