33 2 Social Evolution 



age individual is best off, because it is greatest in 

 those regiments where .the individual feels that high, 

 stern pride in his own endurance and suffering, 

 and in the great name of the organism of which 

 he forms a part, that in itself yields one of the 

 loftiest of all human pleasures. If Mr. Kidd means 

 anything when he says that there is no rational 

 sanction for progress he must also mean that there 

 is no rational sanction for a soldier not flinching 

 from the enemy when he can do so unobserved, for 

 a sentinel not leaving his post, for an officer not 

 deserting to the enemy. Yet when he says this he 

 utters what is a mere jugglery on words. In the 

 process of evolution men and societies have often 

 reached such a stage that the best type of soldier or 

 citizen feels infinitely more shame and misery from 

 neglect of duty, from cowardice or dishonesty, from 

 selfish abandonment of the interests of the organism 

 of which he is part, than can be offset by the gratifi- 

 cation of any of his desires. This, be it also ob- 

 served, often takes place, entirely independent of 

 any religious considerations. The habit of useful 

 self-sacrifice may be developed by civilization in a 

 great society as well as by military training in 

 a regiment. The habit of useless self-sacrifice 

 may also, unfortunately, be developed; and those 

 who practice it are but one degree less noxious 

 than the individuals who sacrifice good people to 

 bad. 



The religious element in our development is that 

 on which Mr. Kidd most strongly dwells, entitling 



