time: the refreshing river 



into the position of protesting vainly against both the "degeneration" 

 into mihtarism, and the sociaHst movement which fought against "free 

 competition." His wide, and substantially correct, survey of evolution 

 led up only to the anti-climax of middle-class liberal economic 

 individualism, past which, in spite of himself, he was carried on 

 protesting. 



But let us celebrate his noble range of vision nevertheless. The 

 onward progress of integration and organisation cannot be arrested. 

 As I write, there rages in one of the most beautiful of European 

 •countries a tragic and terrible struggle between the People and their 

 Adversary. The sound of its gunfire penetrates any College court, 

 no matter how peaceful it may seem. Some faith may be needed to 

 assert with boldness that, even if Spanish democracy be overwhelmed, 

 even if the great democracy of the Soviet Union itself were to be 

 overwhelmed, no matter what shattering blows the cause of con- 

 sciousness may receive, the end is sure. The higher stages of integration 

 and organisation towards which we look have all the authority of 

 evolution behind them. It is no other than Herbert Spencer himself 

 who contributes to this our faith, if faith it be. The devil, as Hippolytus 

 said long ago, may resist the cosmic process. But the last victory will 

 not be his. 



Cambridge^ 

 April 1 6, icfjj 



272 



