THE PROBLEM : THE MODE OF ITS SOLUTION 17 



human progress, we must read more than this. We 

 must take into account the history of man when he 

 was not yet man. And if we believe in the future 

 continuance of tendencies of a few centuries' growth, 

 we shall rest assured of the permanence of tendencies 

 which have grown and strengthened through the 

 ages. 



Our confidence in the results of historical study is 

 therefore proportioned to the extent and thoroughness 

 of the experience which they record, and to the time 

 during which these laws can be proven to have held 

 good. If I can make it even fairly probable that these 

 laws, on obedience to which human progress and suc- 

 cess seem to depend, are merely quoted from a grander 

 code applicable to all life in all times, your confidence 

 in them will be even greater. I trust I can prove to 

 you that the animal kingdom has not drifted aimless- 

 ly at the mercy of every wind and tide and current of 

 circumstance. I hope to show that along one line it 

 has from the beginning through the ages held a steady 

 course straight onward, and that deviation from this 

 course has always led to failure or degeneration. 

 From so vast a history we may hope to deduce some 

 of the great laws of true success in life. Furthermore, 

 if along this central line, at the head of which man 

 stands, there always has been progress, we cannot 

 doubt that future progress will be as certain, and per- 

 haps far more rapid. In all the struggle of life we 

 shall have the sure hope of success and victory ; if not 

 for ourselves stiU for those who shall come after us. 

 " "We are' saved by hope." And we may be confident 

 that this hope 'will never make us ashamed. 



Finally, even from our present knowledge of the 

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