of the Evolution Philosophy. 25 



most fruitful cliaracteristic,»and has been the foundation of 

 all advancement, invention, and discovery, from the birth 

 of modern science throughout the entire history of its 

 magnificent achievements. The history of the past gives 

 us pointers for the future — and they point always away 

 from the crudities, errors and failures of the past, in the 

 direction of an ideal perfection. In all evolutionary pro- 

 gress, Nature moves along the lines of the least resistance, 

 and these lines are not usualh' discovered by the use of 

 metaphysical divining-rods, but by patient, unbiased, per- 

 sistent investigation. Myself a firm believer in the advan- 

 tage and necessity of a larger commercial liberty between 

 nations, I do not believe that the beneficence of this prin- 

 ciple will ever be brought home to the convictions of the 

 people by a priori theorizing. The sooner our Economic 

 professors and social reformers appeal to the facts and les- 

 sons of experience, instead of to metaphysical dogmas, and 

 adopt the method of Evolution in place of that of specula- 

 tive theory, the better it will be for the reforms which they 

 advocate. 



The method of Evolution, as the name indicates, is in 

 its very nature progressive. Evolutionists know that there 

 is no such thing in nature as absolute quiescence : we must 

 have either the activity of progress, or tlie activity of 

 retrogression. The one leads to a higher and more perfect 

 life — the other to dissolution and death. Let us see to it 

 that we choose the way of progress, and of Life ! 



" The outworn ri.<;lit, the ohl abuse, 



The pious fraud transparent gi-own, 

 The good hehl captive in the use 

 Of wrong alone — 



"These wait their doom, from that great law 

 Which makes the past time serve to-day ; 

 A.nd fresher life the world shall draw 

 From their decay. 



"O backward-looking son of time ! 

 The new is old, the old is new — 

 Tlie cycle of a change sublime 

 Still sweeping through. 



" So wisely taught the Indian seer: — 

 Destroying Siva, forming Brahni, 



