356 THE CASE AGAINST EVOLUTION 



effects of one's unselfish deeds becomes ridiculous. For what 

 assurance can we have that the fruits of our sacrifice will be ac- 

 ceptable to a progressive posterity, or what difference will our 

 self-denial make, when the whole human species shall have 

 become extinct on the desolate surface of a dying world? 

 Without an adequate motivation for altruism, however, the 

 existence of society becomes impossible, since self-interest is 

 not a feasible substitute. To urge the observance of social 

 laws on the ground that they protect person, life, and property, 

 will hardly appeal to men who have no possessions to be pro- 

 tected nor a comfortable life to be prolonged. Yet the major 

 portion of mankind are in this category. For such the laws 

 can mean nothing more than artificial corruptions, of the natu- 

 ral and primitive order of things introduced for the special 

 benefit of the rich and powerful. 



Under circumstances of this sort, no plea avails to silence 

 the heralds of revolt. If there is no future life for the right- 

 ing of present injustices, then naught remains but to terminate 

 the prosperity of the wicked here and now. If there is no 

 heaven for man beyond the grave, then it behooves everyone 

 to get all the enjoyment he can out of the present life. It is 

 high time, therefore, that this earthly heaven of mankind 

 should cease to be monopolized by a few coupon-holding 

 capitalists and become, instead, the property of the expropri- 

 ated proletariat. Anarchy and Socialism are the consequences 

 which the logic of the situation inexorably portends. The 

 starving swine must hurl their bloated brethren from the trough 

 that the latter have heretofore reserved for themselves. The 

 sequel, of course, can be none other than the complete disin- 

 tegration of civilization and its ultimate disappearance in a 

 hideous vortex of carnage, rapine, and barbarity. 



Nor is this prognosis based on pure conjecture. In pro- 

 portion as these pernicious doctrines have gained ground, 

 modern society has become infected with the virus of ani- 

 malism, egoism, and perfidy; expediency has been substituted 

 for honor; and purity has been replaced by prophylaxis. 



