32 DARWINISM AND POLITICS. 



us notice with what limitations courage was 

 limited to the courage shown in the battle-field, 

 fidelity was limited to fidelity towards one's 

 own tribe. When reflection begins, and when 

 imagination is developed, the sphere of courage 

 and fidelity comes to be extended, at least in 

 the minds of some of the more reflective and 

 sympathetic individuals. It is precisely in this 

 way that moral ideas, which are the product 

 of social evolution, come to be capable of 

 advance and progress. Customs and customs 

 are laws in their primitive form are habits re- 

 garded as right, because, having been adopted, 

 they have proved conducive to the welfare 

 and success of the tribe or nation ; but customs 

 tend to survive lon^ after the circumstances 

 which called them into beino- have changed. 

 If they become very hurtful, the people main- 

 taining them will in the long run suffer in the 

 struggle with nature or with other nations 

 which have better customs, i.e. customs more 

 favourable to success; but it is a gain to a people 

 if its more far-sighted members discern the hurt- 

 fulness of a custom in time, and persuade or 

 force their fellows to discard it before it is too 

 late. This is in all ages the function of the 



