MORAL FACULTIES. 147 



from the family of an animal which when slaughtered was 

 found to be valuable, the desired character has been 

 obtained. 



Turning now to the social and moral faculties. In order 

 that primeval men, or the ape-like progenitors of man, 

 should become social, they must have acquired the same 

 instinctive feelings, which impel other animals to live in a 

 body; and they no doubt exhibited the same general dispo- 

 sition. They would have felt uneasy when separated from 

 their comrades, for whom they would have felt some degree 

 of love; they would have warned each other of danger, and 

 have given mutual aid in attack or defense. All this im- 

 plies some degree of sympathy, fidelity and courage. Such 

 social qualities, the paramount importance of which to the 

 lower animals is disputed by no one. were no doubt acquired 

 by the progenitors of man in a similar manner, namely, 

 through natural selection, aided by inherited habit. \Vhen 

 two tribes of primeval man, living in the same country, 

 came into competition, if (other circumstances being equal) 

 the one tribe included a great number of courageous, sym- 

 pathetic and faithful members, who were always ready to 

 warn each other of danger, to aid and defend each other, 

 this tribe would succeed better and conquer the other. Let 

 it be borne in mind how all-important in the never-ceasing 

 wars of savages, fidelity and courage must be. The advan- 

 tage which disciplined soldiers have over undisciplined 

 hordes follows chiefly from the confidence which each man 

 feels in his comrades. Obtdience, as Mr. Bagehot has well 

 shown,* is of the highest value, for any form of government 

 is better than none. Selfish and contentious people will 

 not cohere, and without coherence nothing cs.n be effected. 

 A tribe rich in the above qualities would npread and be 

 victorious over other tribes: but in the course of time it 

 would judging from all past history, be in its turn over- 

 come by some other tribe still more highly endowed. Thus 

 the social and moral qualities would tend slowly to advance 

 and be diffused throughout the world. 



But it may be asked, how within the limits of the same 

 tribe did a large number of members first become endowed 



* See a remarkable series of articles on 4i Physics and Politics," in 

 tlie "Fortnightly Review,'' .Nov., 1807; April' 1, Ib68; July 1, 1869, 

 since separately published. 



