300 FROM COMTE TO BENJAMIN KIDD PART iv 



of the world, those naturally superior to cold surviving 

 within the Arctic circle, and those who enjoyed im- 

 munity from fever surviving in the tropics. At any 

 rate, the differentiating process came first. While 

 man was mainly an animal or (what is nearly the 

 same thing) while men were divided from their fellows 

 by geographical barriers they diverged physiologi- 

 cally ; and no doubt they also diverged socially. But, 

 as soon as reason began to assert itself and make its 

 way, the tendency to differentiation was held in check 

 by a tendency to unity a growing unity of culture 

 and custom pointing to an ultimate far-off unity of 

 the whole race. The different branches of the human 

 stock can borrow from each other as kindred tribes of 

 animals cannot do. Even if, for a time, the aristo- 

 cratic few have no mind to help the ignorant many, 

 yet the ignorant many are eager to copy the envied 

 few. Simple survival of the fittest and neglect of the 

 unfit is never long the rule in human affairs. Level- 

 ling up is one of the earliest manifestations of reason, 

 when set free to do its work. 



In the first instance, as between different societies, 

 this process no doubt takes place through war. The 

 stronger race conquers, and the defeated race eagerly 

 imitates the conquerors. This would be fatal to prog- 

 ress if an inferior race were capable of mastering 

 higher races on the field of battle. But, as Bagehot 

 has forcibly pointed out, up to a certain distance the 

 opposite is true ; through many ages, we may be sure 

 that the best man or best race will win at the game 

 of war. Yet how different are the consequences from 

 those of a merely animal victory ! Instead of stub- 

 bornly clinging to their old ways, the conquered 



