v " DARKEST ENGLAND " SCHEME 28? 



Mr. Cunningham's physiological studies will have 

 informed him that the process of "shutting the 

 eyes," in the literal sense of the words, is not 

 always wilful ; and I propose to illustrate, by the 

 crucial instance his own letter furnishes, that the 

 " shutting of the eyes " of the mind to the obvious 

 consequences of accepted propositions may also be 

 involuntary. At least, I hope so. . 



1. " Sooner or later," says Mr. Cunningham, 

 " the population problem will block the way once 

 more." What does this mean, except that multi- 

 plication, excessive in relation to the contem- 

 poraneous means of support, will create a severe 

 competition for those means ? And this seems to 

 me to be a pretty accurate " reflection of the con- 

 ceptions of Malthus " and the other poor benighted 

 folks of a past generation at whom Mr. Cunning- 

 ham sneers. 



2. By way of leaving no doubt upon this sub- 

 ject, Mr. Cunningham further tells us, " The 

 struggle for existence is always going on, of 

 course ; let us thank Darwin for making us realize 

 it." It is pleasant to meet with a little gratitude 

 to Danvin among the epigoni who are squabbling 

 over the heritage he conquered for them, but Mr. 

 Cunningham's personal expression of that feeling 

 is hasty. For it is obvious that he has not 

 " realized " the significance of Darwin's teaching 

 indeed, I fail to discover in Mr. Cunningham's 

 letter any sign that he has even " realized " what 



