Biolof/icdl Ldirs (iiul Sacial /'rof/rcfiS. 53 



In a<l\Miico Inns hofnro they camo in cnnlact willi llic nmrc prnfircssive na- 

 linns of western Europe. 



I MiriiiR tills loiif; iKM-ind (d' sncia 

 iin irroat changes. Accordinji In < 

 liahited Eiii-o]h' dnrins paleolithic 

 pliysical development, perhaps also 

 is shown hy man's animal instincts, 

 has man adviuiced. 



Heneeforth human prof;ress has iiccn iarircly a scries of attempts to 

 solve certain fundamental problems. One of \ho lirst of these to receive 

 atteidion was the problem of government. After experimenting; with vari- 

 ous systems, some democratic, some aulncratic, many including caste and 

 slavery, the more advanced iiatidus nf the world have adoi>ted the demo- 

 cratic ideal of equal units cnni.cnitiiii,' in such a manner as to secure both 

 I he freedom of the individual and lh(> s(>curity of the state. Under this 

 ideal, differentiation is linuted to differences in mental capacity, we.ilth 

 nr occupation, and each individual is free to make the most of himself. The 

 ensuing struggle results in the d(>velnpment of the fittest and thus pmnurtes 

 the welfare of society. 



Recently the adequacy of this ideal has been called in question by the 

 advocates and supporters of a new experiment in class government. In 

 Russia, the ancient stronghold of democracy, revolution has usurped the 

 Itlace of evolution, the government of the Czar has been overthrown, and 

 in its place has been set up an autocracy of the proletariat, "the worst 

 autocracy the world has even known". This system destroys the incentive 

 to individual effort by denying the right to hold private i»roiterty or to 

 engage in private enterprise. liy confiscating the property of the cipitni- 

 istic classes, this system has thus far maintained itself and is spreading i's 

 poison throughout the world. In the immediate future it is a factor to he 

 reckoned with, both in Europe and Asia. Spasmodic outbreaks may also 

 occur elsewhere, nevertheless the influence of Bolshevism seems to be 

 waning as its funds approach the point of exhaustion, and the final result 

 of the experiment, apparently, will be to strengthen the cause of govern- 

 ment by all the people. 



Another problem, the .soluticm of which lies still in the future, is the 

 liroblem of international relations. The need of adju.stment in tliis field 

 has been recognized only in recent times. In international affairs, the rise 

 of civilization has been marked by natural selection, — the "ape and tiger 

 method" which figured so largely in the evolution of lower organisms. In 

 the past, and even in recent time, attempts have been made to justify this 

 method on various grounds. But conditions have changed. Modern na- 

 tions are no longer isolated, as were the ancients. By increase <tf popula- 

 tion and by improved means of communication the nations of the world 

 have become one. and the prosperity of every state is closely linked with 

 that of its neighbors. These common interests of nations demand a recog- 

 nition of their oneness in international law. — a recognition of the principle 

 of cooperation in place of natural selection. Unfortunately the high hopes 

 that were conceived during the war have not yet been fully realized. But 

 some progress has been made. The s<ime need that led individual man to 

 form societies is now insisting on the formation nf a society of mitions. 



