DARWINISM AND POLITICS. 37 



difficult to see whence Mr. Spencer and his fol- 

 lowers derive their ardent faith in a benefic ent 

 result from this struggle, unles s it be, as already 

 s uggested, from a n inconsistent survival of the 

 old theological optimism or the metaphysical 

 idea of Nature. 



6. ideas and institutions. the 

 "social factor:' 



But, it might be objected, the economic 

 struggle is not unmitigated, for industrial com- 

 petition is carried on amongst enlightened and 

 educated people, who will consider one another 

 and develop their altruistic tendencies, though 

 not in excess. Yet s o fearful is Mr. Sp encer 

 of the interference of the State with his social 

 acrore^ate of warring atoms, that he will not 

 hear of any education except what each fam ily 

 pr ovides for its o wn members a return to the 

 patriarchal or " Cyclopic type of society or 

 what can be provided by free competition 

 between private teachers, who will run the 

 educat ional business on strict comm ercial 

 pri nciple s^ Thus I am afraid the educational 

 influences to which he looks will not operate 

 rapidly. But why, it will be said, not trust to 



