Biological Laws and Social Progress, 53 
to advance long before they came in contact with the more progressive na- 
tions of western Europe. 
During this long period of social evolution the human body has shown 
no great changes. According to Osborn, the Cro-Magnon race which in- 
habited Europe during paleolithic time was fully equal to modern man in 
physical development, perhaps also in.mental capacity. A similar stability 
is shown by man’s animal instincts. Only by adding to his social heritage 
has man advanced. 
Henceforth human progress has been largely a series of attempts to 
solve certain fundamental problems. One of the first of these to receive 
attention was the problem of government. After experimenting with vari- 
ous systems, some democratic, some autocratic, many including caste and 
slavery, the more advanced nations of the world have adopted the demo- 
eratic ideal of equal units cooperating in such a manner as to secure both 
the freedom of the individual and the security of the state. Under this 
ideal, differentiation is limited to differences in mental capacity, wealth 
or occupation, and each individual is free to make the most of himself. The 
ensuing struggle results in the development of the fittest and thus promotes 
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 
place of evolution, the government of the Czar has been overthrown, anil 
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 property or to 
engage in private enterprise. By confiscating the property of the capital- 
istic classes, this system has thus far maintained itself and is spreading its 
poison throughout the world. In the immediate future it is a factor to be 
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 goyern- 
ment by all the people. 
Another problem, the solution of which lies still in the future, is the 
problem of international relations. The need of adjustment in this 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 yarious grounds. But conditions have changed. Modern na- 
tions are no longer isolated, as were the ancients. By increase of 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 same need that led individual man to 
form societies is now insisting on the formation of a society of nations. 
