CONCLUSION 229 



nition of the influence of heredity and natural selection 

 may check the beneficent efforts of mankind for the 

 improvement of the material and intellectual environ- 

 ment of the race. But it is to able, competent men 

 that we look for each successive step in the science 

 and art of practical life, and for the steady application 

 of new principles to the everyday surroundings of 

 the people. On the other hand, retrogression would 

 be inevitable if, through a failure to appreciate the 

 position, the stock of inborn ability ran down, and 

 the nation became on the average incompetent. At 

 present, it is only possible to attempt to prevent 

 deterioration, and it is difficult enough to find an 

 effective conscious selection to replace nature's rougher 

 ways. But, however the standard of man may be 

 advanced in the future, there will remain sufficient 

 comparative evil to satisfy the pugnacity of the most 

 ardent champion of good. The improvement of the 

 environment is always worthy of effort, not only for 

 its immediate effect, but also for its influence on 

 coming generations. Acquired characters may not be 

 transmitted by animals or plants, but, in the social 

 organism, a character impressed by the action of one 

 generation will, without doubt, modify profoundly 

 the qualities of the next. Improvement of the 

 environment will always be the more popular cause ; 

 it produces more immediate results, and results that 

 may affect individually those who are asked to expend 

 money or personal effort, or to submit themselves 

 to the necessary limitations. But, ultimately and 

 essentially, the inborn character of a race is the 

 higher consideration. If we seek that first, all the 



