INTRODUCTORY 13 



Just as terrestrial magnetism attracts the com- 

 pass from north to south, so the human conscience 

 also has its magnetism which attracts it to 

 happiness. 



At present the legitimate desire of man for 

 happiness has reached the stage of indifference, 

 when it must be cultured and directed in order 

 to facilitate the evolution of that force which 

 is as irresistible as the force of magnetism 

 itself. 



The danger of the situation consists in the 

 problem not having been stated ; and yet the desire 

 to improve things is so intense, misery has so 

 stimulated the will of some men, that the paroxysm 

 of their anxiety gives rise to social phenomena of 

 terror and violence. Kesponsibilities ! It is still 

 very early to speak of them, but the responsibility 

 falls particularly on many men of science who have 

 not understood the theory of evolution, giving it, 

 for example, such a false and iniquitous interpreta- 

 tion as the struggle for existence a dreadful dis- 

 tortion of the natural course of ideas. The false 

 interpretation of this law is the more to be lamented, 

 as it seems to justify and support all those abuses 

 with the prestige of a scientific argument, whilst 

 the right interpretation of this same law would 

 dissipate the shadows which envelop the social 

 problem. This meanness of spirit is inexcusable 



