Justice in Death S5 



establish thereby a fitter character in the race, then what is 

 the loss suffered by this race folk unit? 



Evidently this greater unit, if it has suffered loss at all 

 has lost only in proportion to its conduct. And if the loss 

 was in consequence only of the acts of the individuals taken, 

 then the remainder has actually gained in its standard of 

 efficiency. The same principle evidently applies in the affairs 

 of other races, and to situations not so cleared of confusing 

 circumstances, as this specially selected example. Like other 

 fundamental laws, this one can be seen reaching upward 

 through the highest development of life, even to the sphere 

 of humanity, although there it is hidden by a multitude of 

 other factors. 



Turn from the life which is not sacred, from the fish 

 that swarm and die in millions, to higher phases of a life 

 which is better valued. Study the intermediate degrees 

 ascending the scale in their greater use of conduct and voli- 

 tion. Consider for example the animals which nurse and 

 care for their young; and so achieve the relief of their race 

 from some of the death losses that the fishes meet. Some of 

 these animals are also surprisingly prolific, notably the de- 

 fenseless ones, such as rabbits, mice, squirrels, and all the 

 small creatures upon whom larger ones levy toll in the hunt 

 for food. Here may be studied that kind of death which, 

 when called accidental, appears to be unavoidable and of ab- 

 solutely despotic control. Yet a race of this degree, or even 

 a certain limited number of kin of this race ; when considered 

 as a conduct unit, appears to lose some members and preserve 

 others, according to a law which changes the race or kin and 

 makes them more fit to resist the adverse circumstances. 



