EGOISM IN THE HUMAN RACE 231 



relations of man witli man that the human struggle 

 for existence is most severe. Here the contests are 

 unceasing. Here it is most evident that the law of 

 the extermination of the unfit is even to-day in con- 

 stant operation. We may first notice how this law 

 acts in relation to human races in actual warfare, 

 and, secondly, how it operates among man in the 

 friendly relations of modern society. 



Extermination by Warfare — The history of mankind 

 has been one of constant warfare. Among the low 

 races of men war is always one of extermination, 

 and such we must believe was the condition existing 

 among primitive races. In more recent centuries 

 captives have been held as hostages for a time, and 

 then generally allowed to return to their own homes. 

 But in all primitive warfare, as disclosed to us by 

 history, by archaeology, and by the study of savage 

 races, defeat was death. The great glory of the 

 savage is to have put to death as large a number 

 of his human enemies as possible. This constant 

 warfare we cannot realize to-day, and it is only as we 

 read incidents in history, or read the experiences of 

 travelers in savage lands, that we can get a glimpse 

 of the condition of men in early times, when eveiy 

 stranger was a foe, when man's only friends were 

 those in his own household, when outside he could 

 expect only enmity and death. At these times, when 

 life was a constant warfare, natural selection was in 

 full force. 



This constant warring of mankind has brought 

 about a selection of families, kingdoms, and even 

 races of men. The weaker individual has yielded his 

 life to the stronger; the weaker family has disap- 

 peared before the more successful rival ; the weaker 



