CIVILIZED NATIONS. 161 



much truth in the belief that the wonderful progress 

 of the United States, as well as the character of the 

 people,, are the results of natural selection; for the more 

 energetic, restless, and courageous men from all parts of 

 Europe have emigrated during the last ten or twelve 

 generations to that great country, and have there succeeded 

 best. * Looking to the distant future, I do not think that 

 the Rev. Mr. Zincke takes an exaggerated view when he 

 says : f "All other series of events as that which 

 resulted in the culture of mind in Greece, and that which 

 resulted in the empire of Rome only appear to have pur- 

 pose and value when viewed in connection with, or rather 

 as subsidiary to . . the great stream of Anglo-Saxon 

 emigration to the west." Obscure as is the problem of thfs 

 advance of civilization, we can at least see that a nation 

 which produced during a lengthened period the greatest 

 number of highly intellectual, energetic, brave, patriotic 

 and benevolent men, would generally prevail over less 

 favored nations. 



Natural selection follows from the struggle for existence; 

 and this from a rapid rate of increase. It is impossible not 

 to regret bitterly, but whether wisely is another question, 

 the rate at which man tends to increase; for this leads in 

 barbarous tribes to infanticide and many other evils, and in 

 civilized nations to abject poverty, celibacy, and to the late 

 marriages of the prudent." But as man suffers from the 

 same physical evils as the lower animals, he has no right to 

 expect an immunity from the evils consequent on the strug- 

 gle for existence. Had he not been subjected during 

 primeval times to natural selection, assuredly he would 

 never have attained to his present rank. Since we see in 

 many parts of the world enormous areas of the most fertile 

 land capable of supporting numerous happy homes, but 

 peopled only by a few wandering savages, it might be 

 argued that the struggle for existence had not been suf- 

 ficiently severe to force man upward to his highest standard. 

 Judging from all that we know of man and the lower ani- 

 mals, there has always been sufficient variability in their 

 intellectual and moral faculties, for a steady advance 



*Mr. Galton, ' < Macmillan's Magazine," Aug., 1865, p. 325. See 

 also "Nature," "On Darwinism and National Life," Dec., 1869, p. 

 184. 



f " Last Winter in the United States," 1868, p, 20. 



