214 DARWINISM AND HUMAN LIFE 



from a desire to avoid unpleasantness, we insist 

 on keeping the unfit alive. 



As the struggle with physical forces and with 

 wild beasts became easier, with more frequent 

 breathing-times and with more encouragement to 

 self-assertiveness, there came to be more com- 

 petition between fellows, and it may be that we 

 owe much to the deadly inter-tribal wars of ancient 

 times, which would tend to favour not only strength 

 but solidarity. The conflict of races still continues 

 among civilised peoples, in trade as much as in 

 war ; and, if there must be this conflict, it is to 

 be desired that, as the result of it, there may be 

 " mastery for the foreseeing nation, for the nation 

 with the cleaner bill of health, the more united 

 purpose of all classes, and the sounder intellectual 

 equipment of its units." ' It is impossible to 

 ignore, however, that the whole aspect has changed 

 in modern times, and that the issues are less 

 clear. We cannot trust to the selective process 

 with equanimity. It is obvious, for instance, 

 that the issue of the conflict often depends very 

 largely on length of purse and up-to-date-ness of 

 equipment, and only to a slight extent on the 

 organic qualities of the race or people. 



Contrast between the Human Race and the 

 Animal World. — It is not necessary to spend 

 time in showing at length that the venue changes 

 greatly when we pass from the animal world to 

 the human race. Apart from the social feelings 

 which make the cruder forms of natural selection 

 intolerable, there are many complicating factors. 



(1) Animals have very little power outside their 



^ " The Scope and Importance to the State of the Science of 

 National Eugenics," by Karl Pearson. London, 1909. 



