330 Evolution and Social Reform : 



has been prevented because some leader has sulked and 

 withdrawn his support when he could not become pre- 

 eminent in achieving its success. Such men esteem them- 

 selves to be the center of the universe, but they forget that 

 the more they indulge this thought the more the universe 

 contracts to their vision, until at last it may chance that 

 they can see no farther than their hands can reach,-and are 

 as ignorant of what is really going on in the world beyond 

 as a man of normal mind would be of what is transpiring 

 in the planet Saturn. 



Thus the only safety lies in constant criticism of 

 opinions, laws, principles, courses of action, one's own not 

 less than other people's. Beware of partisanship, be 

 suspicious of growing loyalty to abstract principles or 

 fanatical support of any party ; avoid animosities, and look 

 out for the pugilistic or polemical spirit when people differ 

 from you ; above all, keep your intelligence clear by purging 

 your soul of the lust of domination ; then you are in good 

 condition to apply the Scientific method to all the pi-oblems 

 of social life ; and I Avould not wonder if, in case you were 

 simply to sit down under a tree and sleep, you might see 

 grand visions, of which you could tell, when you awoke, to 

 the benefit of mankind. 



"This is peace, 

 To conquer love of self ami lust of life, 

 To tear deep-rot)te(l passion from the breast, 

 And still the inward strife." 



There are four departments of activity within which 

 social improvement is wrought out, the Industrial, the 

 Political, the Philanthropic, the Educational. Industrial 

 progress benefits society ; every producer is a helper. 

 Government has its office and liberty cannot yet dispense 

 with law. Much can be accomplished ])y wise charities to 

 aid the suffering. p](lucation is absolutely essential, espe- 

 cially as to character; for a person's disj)Ositions control his 

 deeds and are largely formative of his o})inions. 



The relations of politics to industry just now present 

 the most interesting and pressing questions of social 

 reform ; and here the Scientific metliod is now-a-days too 

 often neglected or misap])lied. The scientific princii)le 

 does not ])rohibit the interference of government with 

 private action to preserve riglits or to make peo])le secure 

 in their enjoyment. The question always is. How can tliis 



