408 THE SOCIAL ORGANISM. 



and leaders ; and, in a tribe of some standing, this results 

 in the establishment of a dominant class, characterized on 

 the average by those mental and bodily qualities which fit 

 them for deliberation and vigorous combined action. Thus 

 that greater impressibility and contractility, which in the 

 rudest animal types characterize the units of the ectoderm, 

 characterize also the units of the primitive social ectoderm ; 

 since impressibility and contractility are the respective roots 

 of intelho^ence and streno^th. 



Again, in the unmodified ectoderm, as we see it in the 

 Hydra^ the units are all endowed both with impressibility 

 and contractility ; but as we ascend to higher types of or- 

 ganization, the ectoderm differentiates into classes of units 

 which divide those two functions between them : some, be- 

 coming exclusively impressible, cease to be contractile ; 

 while some, becoming exclusively contractile, cease to be 

 impressible. Similarly with societies. In an aboriginal 

 tribe, the directive and executive functions are diffused in 

 a mingled form throughout the whole governing class. 

 Each minor chief commands those under him, and if need 

 be, himself coerces them into obedience. The council of 

 chiefs itself carries out on the battle-field its own decisions. 

 The head chief not only makes laws, but administers justice 

 w^ith his own hands. In larger and more settled communi- 

 ties, however, the directive and executive agencies begin 

 to grow distinct from each other. As fast as his duties 

 accumulate, the head chief or king confines himself more 

 and more to directing public affairs, and leaves the execu- 

 tion of his will to others : he deputes others to enforce 

 submission, to inflict punishments, or to carry out minor 

 acts of offence and defence ; and only on occasions when, 

 perhaps, the safety of the society and his own supremacy 

 are at stake, does he begin to act as well as direct. Aa 

 this differentiation establishes itself, the characteristics of 

 the ruler begin to change. Ko longer, as in an aboriginaJ 



