232 REV. JAMES WHITE, M.A., ON 
the previous speakers had turned aside at the mention of Darwin’s 
theory of natural selection, and had raised once more that strange 
spectre of evolution which it was so easy to drive away. 
The speaker’s first protest was against that to him unrecognizable 
caricature of the doctrines of Charles Darwin which had been once 
more brought forward. in regard to this he contented himself by 
expressing the hope that at some future time they might have the 
pleasure of listening to and discussing a paper on evolution by some 
one who was really in touch with the most modern development of that 
theory, and who would be able to put before them the whole case, 
and not merely the survivals of the views of that great Christian but 
indifferent scientist Samuel Wilberforce. 
The point of the paper which seemed to him to have been 
altogether neglected was the Malthusian doctrine of which so many 
misrepresentations were current. If, as Mr. White had said, this 
doctrine had produced such great results when applied to the field of 
Natural Science, what might not result if it were applied to the 
field of political economy, and that science of which Malthus was a 
true student though its name was scarcely heard in his time— 
Sociology. 
Every effort was being made by authority to secure better con- 
ditions for the human race; yet as the learned author had pointed 
out, the net result was the decrease of parental responsibility where 
it was most needed. 
The attempt to eliminate the unfit by raising the present gener- 
ation and doing away with the conditions which led to another 
generation growing up with stunted bodies and minds was having 
one remarkable effect. 
The increased burden was being thrown, and rightly thrown, on 
those who were most able to bear it. But at the same time while 
the responsibility of the wealthy and middle classes was being 
enormously increased, little was done to increase the sense of 
responsibility amongst the lowest and really unfit. 
The diminishing birth rate of England was a real danger, because 
there was little or no diminution amongst the least economically fit, 
the unskilled labourers and the casual labourers, while among the 
economically fit the decrease was very great indeed. 
They were all faced by a tremendous economic problem, and by” 
tremendous responsibilities which they had to take up. 
