MENTAL AND SOCIAL EVOLUTION 141 



in the struggle, by the principle of natural selection, 

 and the survival of the fittest. Just as the organic 

 units. cells, that make up the organic body must 

 work in harmony with each other, give " mutual aid" 

 in building up the growing body, and in keeping it a 

 living organism, after it is built up; so must the indi- 

 viduals forming a body politic work together in form- 

 ing and supporting, the social organism. At the same 

 time, there is a certain unconscious natural selection, 

 constantly going on, even among the individuals, which 

 the aggregate reason of the society does not seem to 

 control, and this natural selection does not interfere 

 at all, with the "mutual aid" necessary to preserve the 

 unity of the society, in its natural struggle for exist- 

 ence, as a society. Neither is this individual natural 

 selection, or struggle for survival, a conscious one, 

 in the sense that the mass of men must consent, 

 in the interests of progress, to be driven to the wall, 

 in order that a few more excellent individuals may be 

 selected to rule society. Nor does society itself select 

 those who rule it. This is done by natural selection, 

 as the ultimate cause. That is, certain individuals are 

 possessed of superior ability to govern. If these are 

 selected, also, by the individuals of the society, in the 

 exercise of their reason, then the selection is wise. 

 But if the unfit are selected to rule, it is unwise, -be- 

 cause society suffers. The consent of men, as to the 

 fit or unfit, as to "those who go to the wall" or "those 

 who rule" in society, can only be governed by what 

 nature has already done to determine such matters. 



The breeder of domestic animals practices conscious 

 artificial selection with a purpose, and that is, to form 

 the animal for the most economic use of man. But 

 natural selection among human beings in society, by 



