82 EVOLUTION, SOCIAL AND ORGANIC 



again, "To Darwin was reserved the task of 

 bringing the theory of common descent to its 

 present high rank in scientific and social phi- 

 losophy." And, "Notwithstanding all these 

 apparently unsurmountable difficulties, (ab- 

 sence of experimental evidence since gather- 

 ed) Darwin discovered the great principle 

 which rules the evolution of organisms. It is 

 the principle of natural selection. It is the 

 sifting out of all organisms of minor worth 

 through the struggle for life." 



The greater part of the adverse criticism, 

 aimed at Darwinism applies only to the ex- 

 travagant claims put forward by his over- 

 enthusiastic disciples; claims not to be found 

 in the works of Darwin himself. As we shall 

 see later, one of the greatest oflfenders in this 

 respect was no less a person than the co-dis- 

 coverer of the selection theory — Alfred Rus- 

 sell Wallace." 



Of all the mischievous misconceptions of 

 Darwin's theory none have worked so much 

 harm as that which regards natural selection 

 as the active and efficient cause of evolution. 

 Although, evolution is an established fact, our 

 knowledge of its processes are incomplete and 

 must always remain so until we have solved 

 that most vexed of all biological problems, the 

 "causes of variation." 



