COHESIVE POWER OF SOCIAL LIFE 273 



nature, but to discover the will of nature, the better to 

 obey it. 



This growth period, then, that we have had in mind 

 was doubtless the most remarkable constructive period 

 in the history or organic evolution. No known geo- 

 logical era, representing many millions of years, shows 

 anything comparable, either in actual accomplishment, 

 or in potential significance, with this world-wide func- 

 tional unification of physical, organic, and spiritual 

 powers. 



V. The Compulsion to Social Cooperation 



It is evident that the source of man's motor power 

 is not in man himself. The real source of the great 

 wealth of life and treasure, which not only provides 

 him with the means to action, but the motive for action, 

 is in the past; in the sunlight and in the soil; in moving 

 and standing waters; in the forests, mountains, and 

 plains; in their products, and in their inhabitants. It 

 is from this accumulated capital of nature's construc- 

 tive labor that man derives his vital power. It is the 

 common heritage of life from nature, held in trust by 

 life, for life and its posterity. 



But the dawning consciousness that he, Aladdin- 

 like, could command these vast sources of power; that 

 at the touch of his hand and the impulse of his will 

 these monstrous genii of good and evil could be sum- 

 monsed to his aid, spurred him on to gain possession 

 of them. They became indeed the common objectives 

 of national and imperial endeavor. But the questions, 

 what shall be done with them, or how shall we use 



