30 DARWINISM AND POLITICS. 



of institutions ; and yet they constitute a factor 

 that must be taken account of, if we are to 

 form an adequate conception of social evolu- 

 tion. 



What is effected by conscious effort is not 

 necessarily in antagonism to what was going on 

 in the unconscious stage. More often it is a 

 continuation, an extension, an acceleration of a 

 process already begun. In the higher organ- 

 isms, even apart from consciousness, there is, at 

 leas t according to Mr. Spencer's generalisat ion , 

 less waste than in th e low er. Thus the plants 

 that are fertilised by insects produce fewer pollen 

 grains than those which have no conspicuous 

 flowers. Those which have fruits that are attrac- 

 tive to birds produce fewer seeds than crypto- 

 gamous plants, whose germs fill the air in count- 

 less myriads. The great mortality of savage 

 life and the prevalence of infanticide are similar 

 instances of waste which disappear more or less 

 at higher stages in social evolution. It is very 

 easy for the historian to show how much ser- 

 vice has been rendered to mankind by fierce 

 struggles, by war, civil dissension, economic 

 competition. But do es iuherefore follow, that 

 equal ly good e nds can never be attained at les s 



