176 The Morality of Nature 



This is the elementary view of the foundation of the 

 strength of civiHzed conduct against barbaric. While the 

 imperfect barbaric altruism may make possible a triumph 

 over all rivals, it is not self sustaining, but the higher altru- 

 ism accomplishes an enormous enlargement of the unit, with 

 corresponding gain in power, which has no limit in its 

 possibility. This does not apply to modern civilization 

 only, civilization in its dawn was evidently thus impelled 

 by a natural crowding of people in prosperity, some of 

 whom, doubtless enjoying advantages of freedom from 

 barbaric aggressors, grew into a certain degree of altruism 

 as unconsciously as do the other gregarious creatures. The 

 opinion that this growth preceded any recognition of it, 

 is not only credible, but it is in accord with observations still 

 possible, but fast disappearing before the march of modern 

 world conquest. When, during recent historic times, new 

 people who had known little of any outside world were dis- 

 covered, it was almost invariably shown that those of great 

 numbers were always associated in habits of altruism; and 

 that barbarism of blood thirstiness and aggression was co- 

 incident with smaller and restricted tribal development. 

 The numerous populations of tropical islands were usually 

 friendly. The great oriental peoples remained idealists and 

 altruists even when their vast populations were dominated 

 by alien warriors; and it may well be that these warriors 

 were the servants and saviors of the peaceful faith, and not 

 of their own aggressive power. On the other hand the 

 predatory Arabs of the near east, the head hunters of the 

 farther eastern islands, and the warriors of the North Amer- 

 ican Continent, which is today called west, were found in 



