266 The Evolution Hypothesis. 



by the ghost of the chief, when dead ; by the dread of 

 the avenging gods ; and by the stern action of society 

 putting down conduct that proved injurious to it. 

 Created in this fashion, the sense of obligation was 

 originally an illusion a falsehood. The poor savage 

 in whose breast it was engendered was the dupe of 

 his own fears. In passing, one may be permitted to 

 notice how familiar the evolutionist is with the 

 feelings and experiences of the primitive savage man : 

 he speaks of him as if he were his next door neigh- 

 bour. Our dusky African brother will not, on 

 evolution principles, serve as a true specimen of 

 primeval humanity; for through myriad ages the 

 evolution of the race has been going on each new 

 experience marking some change, however slight. 

 The fixedness that would assimilate the savage of 

 to-day with the human being of the first ages is a 

 phenomenon wholly at variance with the assumed 

 unceasing process of change. 



We shall suppose, however, that the simple primi- 

 tive man had thus imposed on him a coercive sense of 

 obligation : How will it be with the more highly 

 evolved man, who sits in judgment on his chiefs, 

 relegates his God to the unknowable, and delights in 

 dissecting with keen scalpel the nerves and ligaments- 

 of society ? Will he continue to allow himself to be 

 coerced by the authority of moral law ? 



Mr. Spencer answers by bringing into view what 

 he regards as the sanction of moral action the neces- 



