5 i6 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



agent was by this time largely complete. War had therefore 

 become obsolete. Evolution has taken to itself a number of new 

 and finer tools, wherewith to continue its great work, and the 

 hatchet with which it formerly rough-hewed was no longer 

 required. Our knowledge of Nature is, however, incomplete, and 

 we must guard against meddling, for tear of disastrous results. 

 What kinds of degeneration might be set up we do not know. 



But Sir Ronald felt that it was our business as reasonable 

 beings to control war, in the sense in which we tried to control 

 disease. We should seek to ascertain the ultimate causes of war. 

 He thought wars were more due to the personal ambitions of 

 individuals than was generally admitted. The Napoleonic wars 

 were an instance. So he considered was the present struggle. 

 Want of preparedness too was greatly provocative of war, and 

 this country would have bitterly to pay for its sins of omission 

 in this respect. The speaker severely criticised the conduct 

 of those who accepted the burden of guaranteeing Belgium's 

 neutrality and made no preparation for enforcing [it. War was 

 mainly due to misgovernment of some kind or other. Men are 

 still stupid enough to allow themselves to be governed by 

 the unfit. 



Sir Ronald Ross concluded by proposing two resolutions — 

 viz. that war had been a very important factor in the evolu- 

 tion of mankind, and that we should now endeavour to do 

 without it. 



A vote of thanks was moved in a telling but hostile speech 

 by Mr. Drummond Smith. Mr. Rhymer seconded. Both speakers 

 seemed rather impressed by the skill with which Sir Ronald had 

 placed his guns for defence in either direction. Their criticisms, 

 however, were rather of the conclusions than of the argument. 

 The ensuing discussion was continued with vigour, speaker after 

 speaker rising to support or denounce (and generally denounce) 

 Sir Ronald's thesis. A short but brilliant speech in support was 

 made by Miss Nettlefold, and later Mr. Holloway spoke with 

 clear, shrewd insight on the same side. Mr. Crossley, Mr. 

 Lambert, Mr. Burke, Mr. Grimshaw, and others followed. The 

 level of the debate was not perhaps so high as the Union's 

 reputation, but the interest was thoroughly maintained until the 

 vote of thanks had been carried by acclamation, Sir Ronald Ross 

 had briefly replied, and the meeting had dispersed. 



G. Taylor-Loban. 



