Evolution of Morals. 271 



of Cannibalism " ; and it may be admitted that lie lias fairly 

 demonstrated that this social custom is not so wholly 

 divorced from ethical considerations as might at first appear. 

 The system of slavery, which, as related to our modern 

 civilization, was rightly denounced by John Wesley as " the 

 sum of all villanies," was, in its inception, a beneficent sub- 

 stitute for slaughter and cannibalism, and its adoption indi- 

 cated an ethical advance on the part of its originators. In 

 many of the situations of life as they arise in the course of 

 social evolution, under the pressing exigencies of contem- 

 porary custom, business competition, governmental regula- 

 tion and popular prejudice, it must be recognized that the 

 best that the conscientious individual can do is to choose 

 that course of conduct which, under all the circumstances, 

 seems likely to be productive of the fewest evil results, 

 instead of that which is absolutely right, even if he is capa- 

 ble of comprehending the absolute right. A man who, in 

 the midst of a savage or barbarous community, in defiance 

 of current social or religious customs, should attempt to 

 live the ideal life of a perfect civilization, would doubtless 

 quickly be eliminated from such a society by violent and 

 tragical means, and thus effectively be estopped from influ- 

 encing those around him to better ways of living. Much of 

 our enforced civilization of savage races has been fatal in 

 its effects upon the health and happiness of the vast major- 

 ity, while it has failed to elevate the average morals of the 

 survivors. This is likely to be the result whenever conven- 

 tional education is forced upon a people in advance of their 

 functional development. The Hawaian Islanders offer a 

 fruitful and impressive example of the truth of this asser- 

 tion, if such be needed. Even in our modern civilized com- 

 munities he who attempts to live a life of ideal moral 

 perfection will often " find himself in sufficiently dramatic 

 situations." * He must be a very strong and well-balanced 

 man who can materially aid society by violently and radi- 

 cally opposing its conventional methods and tendencies. 

 The gradual evolutionary processes of ethical culture are 

 usually more effective in bringing about social reforms, than 

 " running a-muck " against social evils with violent denun- 

 ciation and abuse. 



The ultimate practical test of Moral Science in doubtful 

 emergencies, when formulated, is nevertheless precisely 



*The phrase is "Christopher North's." 



