PERFECTIBILITY OF MAN. 189 



there are others which happier ages may mitigate, if 

 they cannot altogether annul. Of these war stands 

 first and foremost an anomaly it might well be called, 

 were it not that the pages of all history are sullied with 

 its records, from the earliest time down to our own 

 day, among the most civilised and religious as well as 

 most savage races of men. When and how is this 

 blemish upon humanity to be effaced? Our actual 

 civilisation, as we see, has failed to effect it. Is there 

 any higher grade attainable by man which may meet 

 this great requirement? I would fain believe that 

 there is such to be reached through the progress of 

 the moral and intellectual faculties, and itself furnish- 

 ing the best test and happiest result of this progress. 

 Ages may pass beforehand, but it is hardly credible 

 that the time should not come when this dark stain 

 will be removed from the history of mankind. 



