EVOLUTION THEORIES 227 



discussion towards a fuller grasp of the studies 

 of evolution, the result is plain enough. Since 

 we cannot but project our human thought, 

 our social progress, upon Nature, let this be 

 more than that of past or passing phases and 

 groups, but of the incipient social order as 

 well, of Society at its very best, since here 

 is the growing-point of our own evolution. 

 Yet we must test all anew in the field ; for by 

 our fresh glimpse of theoretic light, the whole 

 world must be reviewed afresh, and our new 

 light ray tested in its turn for all it may be 

 worth, as well for all it can reveal. The true 

 Darwinian is thus not he who longest swears 

 by the word of the master, and stretches 

 some classic adaptations, say of flower and 

 insect, towards its breaking point, but he 

 who with a social philosophy advanced beyond 

 that of Darwin's teacher, Malthus, goes forth 

 anew into the field. For one this bettered 

 social theory may be Marx's, for another 

 Ruskin's, for another Gobineau's, Nietzsche's, 

 and so on : each is actually yielding its bio- 

 logical result. Most obviously perhaps, Gal- 

 ton's, since his studies have been again of the 

 population question, but in what new light ! 

 And with what fresh results and impulses: 

 here with biometrician disciples, there with 

 no less active Mendelian antagonists ! 

 H 2 



