EVOLUTION OF MIND IN MAN 67 



recall the past memory of happiness derived from mental inter- 

 course, or realize that the exchange of thoughts can do more 

 to enlarge the happiness of others than physical labours who 

 for centuries have never had to use their reason ? 



Their mental past has been narrow, so how can 

 they recall the past advantage of broad-minded ideas, when 

 exchange of thought has but little fitted their ancestors, who 

 have never learnt the wisdom of giving up erroneous opinions 

 to accept more correct ideas in place of narrow-minded views, 

 so they are unable to alter their opinions with rapidity or 

 decide between false and true statements, except in such cases 

 where their ancestors have had experience ? They have always 

 been led blindfold in the past, so how are they to be their 

 own leaders in thought? You can produce reasons in support 

 of your argument without avail, but those who have led them 

 in the past have done the thinking, and prohibited their right 

 of reason or control, then how are they to have past experi- 

 ence in the art of deciding for themselves, who have never been 

 permitted to be their own masters. But instead of this we 

 are doing just the reverse, for we are increasing their liberties 

 and allowing them to decrease the freedom of the community, 

 by removing the reins of ignorance with which we have driven 

 them, before we have taught them the necessary lessons in self- 

 control ; the duties of life that higher social positions entail 

 upon them; or the necessary distinctions that society makes 

 between rich and poor, to equalize the unevenness of the labours 

 and burdens that class distinctions, in occupation, entail upon 

 the variety of labours that are necessary to produce the many 

 requirements of the community, the means of satisfying which 

 are contained in the vested capital of the whole. 



We must be more liberal in acts of social assistance. 

 Liberal in pecuniary charity we perhaps may be, but we are 

 and have been in the past too mean in love, social amiability, 

 and sympathy and assistance to the weak and unfortunate. It 

 is the fact that we are now making advances in this direction 

 that has enabled us to lift the clouds upon the horizon of 

 understanding, and caused the light of the soul to dawn in the 

 human mind ; but we must make instruction in the different 

 social distinctions, part of the curriculum of education, if we 

 would relieve these evils. This, I maintain, is the greatest 

 step civilisation has made since man left- off jabbering and 



