THE RIGHT TO LIVE 199 



finds its application. It is the same in all 

 essential particulars with animals as with 

 plants, there is a constant struggle for a 

 suitable portion of food and a comfortable 

 amount of space, the fortunate few succeed- 

 ing, while multitudes perish. To this general, 

 coercive law of the organic world man finds 

 in himself no exemption, except in so far as 

 the humanizing principle of altruism has 

 effect. Thus throughout the world the truth 

 in the refrain of Grant Allen's "Ballade of 

 Evolution " finds confirmation : 



"For the fittest will always survive, 

 While the weakliest go to the wall." 



All are aware of the substantial use Darwin 

 made of facts regarding nature's prodigality 

 in animate forms, and the resulting competi- 

 tion between them, in establishing his theory 

 of the origin of species. The logical result of 

 the theory requires the subordination of the 

 individual to the good of the race. As of all 

 the myriad individuals only the fittest survive, 

 the race is in consequence gradually improved. 

 The battle is to the strong, and the weak are 

 mercilessly shoved aside, oppressed, and an- 

 nihilated. There seems no escape from the 

 conclusion that the ethics of nature make 

 right and might synonymous terms. Individ- 

 uals not only crowd and overpower individ- 

 uals of the same species, but they prey upon 



