Social Enviro7uncnt 



worthless and should be swept away to give place 

 to something entirely new, have forgotten the 

 power of the generalized and primitive. They 

 would " throw away the baby with the bath 

 water," to borrow a very homely German adage. 

 Evolution is sometimes radical, but underneath 

 all It Is always conservative as well. The good 

 of the past thoroughly tested by long experience 

 must be preserved, but it must be modified con- 

 tinually to meet changing conditions. Any great 

 Institution Is like an army which must continu- 

 ally adapt Its tactics, arms, and organization to 

 new modes of warfare, and continually change 

 front for attack or defense. Fulfillment not de- 

 struction Is the watchword of the wise leader. 



The evolutionist has a useful standpoint from 

 which to observe and judge human society and 

 institutions. That social order Is the best which 

 " fits as many as possible to survive." Any in- 

 stitution Is valuable just In proportion to Its fit- 

 ness and adequacy to enlarge and deepen man's 

 life, and to Increase his strength, vigor, power, 

 courage, and efl'iclency. The fitness and ade- 

 quacy are tested by actual experiment. We have 

 a firm ground of confidence In the old, while we 

 feel our way toward the new and still better. 



207 



