The Theory of Evolution 25 



changes and much foreign conflict. The mer- 

 chant class, strengthening their hold on gov- 

 ernment, made of the Tudors efficient tools, 

 but had to fight the reactionary and despotic 

 Stuarts. At length a new dynasty was im- 

 ported on the basis of a written contract, and 

 under the nominal rule of the new monarchs 

 business found freedom to expand its foreign 

 trade into all parts of the world. But the 

 greatest step in the rise of business, and the 

 business point of view of individual competi- 

 tion, came with the phenomenal development 

 of machinery a century and a half ago. The 

 increasing demand for goods to supply foreign 

 markets suggested to some unimportant me- 

 chanics certain improvements in their tools. 

 In rapid succession came the series of inven- 

 tions that are comprised under the name of the 

 factory system. Then suddenly there arose 

 before the dazzled eyes of business leaders 

 alluring visions of wealth, and with the spirit 

 of their freebooter ancestors they clutched 

 eagerly after it. 



Meanwhile the serfs — such, at least, as had 

 survived the blessings of their new freedom — > 

 had succeeded to a considerable extent in estab- 

 lishing themselves with the village and town 



