430 THE METHOD OF ORGANIC EVOLUTION. 



tlie case of these large and rare variations tbe difficulty is an over- 

 whelming" one. And we must always remember that these alleged 

 " stable " variations, from the first moment of their appearance, can 

 not possibly escape from the action of natural selection. As, roughly 

 speaking, only about 1 per cent of each generation survives to breed, 

 this new form, however stable iu itself, can not become part of that 1 

 per cent unless tlie i)articnlar variation which ('characterizes it is either 

 beneficial or entirely harmless. But in the latter case it is difficult to 

 see what constitutes its superiority over the rest of the species which, 

 year by year, by means of this intensely severe process of elimination, 

 is kept iu harmony with the environment. If the stability consists in 

 greater health, vigor, reproductive power, or intelligence, all these 

 qualities have already been developed to the fullest needful extent, 

 and these superior individuals will be selected in the usual way. But 

 if — as a second alternative — these alleged stable variations are sup 

 posed to have some kind of inherent stability independent of tlie 

 environment, then, stability jiotwithstauding, tliey would inevitably 

 soon succumb uiuler the terrible eliminating power Avhich year by year 

 leaves only about 1 per cent of the most fit to survive. There is really 

 no escape Jrom this dilemma: If your new variety is among the 1 or 2 

 per cent of the most fit, then it does not need this purely imaginary 

 quality of " organic stability " in order to survive; if it is not among 

 this small body of the most fit — that is, of the best adapted to the 

 whole (conditions of existence of the species or race — then, any other 

 (piality notwithstanding, it will certainly not survive. 



The term " organic stability " has really no meaning except that of 

 harmonious adaptation to the environment as tested and maintained by 

 natural selection. To talk about new races or species being produced 

 "without any help whatever from natural selection" can, under the 

 actual conditions of the terrestrial universe, only mean that there is an 

 inherent developmental power which modifies organisms iu definite 

 ways, and in more perfect harmony with the environment than has 

 been or can be brought about by natural selection, thus kee])ing these 

 modified organisms always ahead of the rest. They may thus be said 

 to be iiulependent of survival of the fittest, because they and their 

 ofts])ring always are the most fit, and therefore always survive ! On 

 this theory evolution goes on by the production of new races comjilete 

 and ready formed, and in i)erfect harmony with the environment when- 

 ever that environment undergoes a change. But no evidence is offered 

 for such an extraordinary developmental power being always at work 

 and always able to produce adaptation to an ever-changing environ- 

 ment. Such a power would be hardly difierent from the old special 

 creation, or than the preordained harmony of the philosophers; and it 

 would, moreover, have rendered unnecessary and unintelligible that 

 rapid ninltiiilication and consequent enormous expenditure of life 

 which now prevails. It would ecpially render unnecessary that won- 



