448 HEREDITY AND SELECTION IN SOCIOLOGY 



Add to this the fact which must not be overlooked — ^namely, that 

 legislation is, in the great majority of cases, in the hands of men 

 who are no longer young, and who are, consequently, less recep- 

 tive to new ideas with which in their youth they were not f amihar ; 

 and we shall be able to appreciate more correctly the chances of 

 the rapidity of social evolution. In the second place, traditional 

 progress is conditioned by organic progress, and is subordinate 

 to it. So much, indeed, is this the case that a traditionally in- 

 ferior nation which is biologically superior can beat a nation 

 which is traditionally superior and biologically inferior ; although 

 the ideal State will be the one which combines traditional and 

 organic progress. It follows that no nation can cultivate tradi- 

 tional progress and neglect corresponding organic progress with- 

 out risk of elimination. The nation must, in its evolution, take 

 into consideration the evolution of other States, and direct its 

 poUty accordingly. Athens neglected to do this ; she became a 

 nation of thinkers in a world of warriors, and she succumbed in 

 consequence. Similarly, the pohty of a nation must take heed 

 of the shiftiags of the balance of power within itself — shiftings 

 which are caused by other factors, chiefly economic. Otherwise 

 there is a danger that its evolution will result, in a future more 

 or less remote, in dissolution. 



