1887.J -'■'"^ [Claypole. 



the tamers of wild animals proves that the same is true among them. 

 The temper of tamed elephants,' of tamed lions (so-called), and of other 

 ■wild beasts indicates a difference of moral qualities quite equal to what we 

 see in the domesticated species. The difference is often very conspicuous 

 in members of the same litter. 



The tendency to vice born in many individuals among mankind and 

 growing with age — the inheritance from vicious ancestors — impels its pos- 

 sessor to acts which shorten his days and are in other ways extremely pre- 

 judicial to him. The evolutionist may assert that this result is only 

 Xature's way of killing off those unfit to live. The philanthropist may 

 pity them and spend time and labor and money in trying to reform them, 

 and occasionallj' with success. But both evolutionist and philanthropist 

 thereby proclaim their belief that the moral tendencies developed in these 

 individuals are highly prejudicial and often fatal. They are, however, 

 the outcome of environment of themselves and their ancestors. They 

 are effects of the variability of the organism moulded by circumstances. 

 They are variates whose variation is hostile to their civilized surroundings 

 and leads to extinction. In other countries and among other circumstances 

 they might yet be fairly in harmony with their conditions of life and 

 might live. "The most inhuman monster of crime that ever was con- 

 demned by a court and executed by an officer of the law would among 

 such tribes as those of Australia surely pass for the embodiment of all 

 excellences and rise to an uncontested chieftainship" (Bergen: "The 

 Development Theory," p. 178). 



It is not relevant to reply that most of the cases here cited are accidents 

 and should not be quoted in proof of the proposition. All such actual 

 occurrences can be logically employed. Accident merely means happen- 

 ing out of the expected course. If accidents happen often they partially 

 lose that character ; if they prevail they lose it altogether. If such acci- 

 dents as those above mentioned were advantageous to the organism they 

 would soon be perpetuated and become the rule. All variations are acci- 

 dents and their continuance and repetition are dependent on their advan- 

 tage to the variant. If prejudicial they are soon eliminated and cease. 



" Treason doth never prosper ; what's the reason ? 

 AVhy, if it prosperuone dare call it treason." 



Variation is treason to the original organism. If it can sustain itself it 

 becomes the new organism and supersedes the old one. If not it soon 

 goes down and is forgotten. 



These cases therefore are not only relevant but they are the only cases 

 that can be cited. So quickly do all prejudicial variations die out that in 

 the wild state only now and then can they be noted and recorded. Hence 

 the exceptional are the only relevant and valid 'examples, and to reject 

 them on this account would be to put out of court the only witnesses 

 whose testimony is pertinent and by which the proposition can be estab- 

 lished. 



