V " DARKEST ENGLAND " SCHEME 287 



Mr. Cunningliam's pliysiological studies will have 

 informed liim that the process of " shutting the 

 eyes," in the Uteral 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 jDroblem will block the way once 

 more." What does this mean, excejDt 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 Darwin among the ejJigoni 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 



