336 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



tree of life to branch and again branch continuously, each branch push- 

 ing its shoot as far as possible in its own direction, are well understood. 

 The gradual but steady improvement, the strengthening of the blood, 

 increasing the energies, sharpening the instincts by ruthless destruc- 

 tion of the weak, the slow, the dull, the unfit in any way, and thus 

 adapting the remaining strong and active in the most perfect manner 

 to the various and varying conditions of life, is also clear. This pitiless 

 principle acts among animals without limit except in the case of the 

 young of the higher animals, and its good effect is just in proportion 

 to its pitilessness. 



Now, in human society, also, the same principle must act and does 

 act as a powerful agent of progress, hut not without limit. There is 

 here introduced a higher moral or spiritual law which limits and modi- 

 fies the operation of the material law inherited from the animal king- 

 dom — a law which seeks the survival and improvement of all. As 

 animality gradually developed into humanity (if we accej^t this view), 

 this new principle of benevolence and mutual help was added to the 

 old principle of selfism and mutual antagonism inherited with the animal 

 nature. A new principle of altruism (as it is now fashionable to call 

 it) was added to the old principle of egoism, in small proiDortions at 

 first, but gradually increasing in strength as humanity' is developed. 

 Under the influence of the Christian ideal this principle has become so 

 active in modern society as to seriously impair the healthy operation of 

 the more fundamental principle of the struggle for life. There is little 

 doubt that the survival of the weak and helpless, and the sustentation 

 of the unfit and the vicious, are beginning to poison the blood and para- 

 lyze the energy of the race. Also the survival of so many who would 

 be eliminated by the operation of the old principle, increases the press- 

 ure of population on the means of subsistence, and thus also increases 

 the evil. How shall we, then, settle the claims of these two opposite 

 principles — the one necessary to the physical, the other to the moral im- 

 provement of the race ? It is evident that Reason must hold the bal- 

 ance, adjust the equilibrium, and repair any damage which has already 

 resulted. This she will CA'entually do by pointing out and enforcing 

 simpler and more rational modes of life, by sanitary regulations, and 

 by proper physical education. Thus will it gradually restore and 

 increase the vigor of the race. It will undoubtedly also prevent the 

 pressure of increasing population upon the means of subsistence by 

 limiting reproduction by rational, healthy, and moral methods. I call 

 special attention to this as another example of the limitation or even 

 reversal of a purely material law by a higher law connected with our 

 spiritual nature. 



