162 TEE DESCENT OF MAN 



bad, solely as they obviously affect the welfare of the tribe 

 —not that of the species, nor that of an individual member 

 of the tribe. This conclusion agrees well with the belief 

 that the so-called moral sense is aboriginally derived from 

 the social instincts, for both relate at first exclusively to the 

 community. The chief causes of the low morality of sav- 

 ages, as judged by our standard, are, first, the confinement 

 of sympathy to the same tribe. Secondly, powers of reason- 

 ing insufficient to recognize the bearing of many virtues, 

 especially of the self -regarding virtues, on the general wel- 

 fare of the tribe. Savages, for instance, fail to trace the 

 multiplied evils consequent on a want of temperance, chas- 

 tity, etc. And, thirdly, weak power of self-command; for 

 this power has not been strengthened through long-contin- 

 ued, perhaps inherited, habit, instruction, and religion. 



I have entered into the above details on the immorality 

 of savages," because some authors have recently taken a 

 high view of their moral nature, or have attributed most 

 of their crimes to mistaken benevolence.*" These authors 

 appear to rest their conclusion on savages possessing those 

 virtues which are serviceable, or even necessary, for the 

 existence of the family and of the tribe — qualities which 

 they undoubtedly do possess, and often in a high degree. 



Concluding Bemarhs. — It was assumed formerly by phi- 

 losophers of the derivative*' school of morals that the foun- 

 dation of morality lay in a form of Selfishness ; but more 

 recently the "Greatest happiness principle" has been brought 

 prominently forward. It is, however, more correct to speak 

 of the latter principle as the standard, and not as the motive 

 of conduct. Nevertheless, all the authors whose works I 



8» See on this subject copious evidence in chap. vii. of Sir J. Lubbocl:, 

 "Origin of Civilization," 1810, 



*^ For instance, Leoky, "History of European Jlorals," vol. i. p. 124. 



" This term is used in an able article in the "Westminster Eeview," Oct. 

 1869, p. 498. For the "Greatest happiness principle," see J. 8. Mill, "Utili- 

 tarianism," p. 17 



