198 LAWS OF MULTIPLICATION. 



adjust itself? And how do they necessitate a higher evolu- 

 tion of the organism ? 



Civilization, everywhere having for its antecedent the in- 

 crease of population, and everywhere having for one of its 

 consequences a decrease of certain race-destroying forces, has 

 for a further consequence an increase of certain other race- 

 destroying forces. Danger of death from predatory animals 

 lessens as men grow more numerous. Though, as they spread 

 over the Earth and divide into tribes, men become wild 

 beasts to one another, yet the danger of death from this 

 cause also diminishes as tribes coalesce into nations. But the 

 danger of death which does not diminish, is that produced by 

 augmentation of numbers itself — the danger from deficiency 

 of food. Supposing human nature to remain unchanged, the 

 mortality hence resulting would, on the average, rise as 

 human beings multiplied. If mortality, under such condi- 

 tions, does not rise, it must be because the supply of food 

 also augments ; and this implies some change in human 

 habits wrought by the stress of human needs. Here, then, is 

 the permanent cause of modification to which civilized men 

 are exposed. Though the intensity of its action is ever being 

 mitigated in one direction, by greater production of food ; it 

 is, in the other direction, ever being added to by the greater 

 production of individuals. Manifestly, the wants of their 

 redundant numbers constitute the only stimulus mankind 

 have to obtain more necessaries of life : were not the demand 

 beyond the supply, there would be no motive to increase the 

 supply. And manifestly, this excess of demand over supply 

 is perennial : this pressure of population, of which it is the 

 index, cannot be eluded. Though by the emigration that 

 takes place when the pressure arrives at a certain intensity, 

 temporary relief is from time to time obtained ; }^et as, by 

 this process, all habitable countries must become peopled, it 

 follows that in the end. the pressure, whatever it may then 

 be, must be borne in full. 



This constant increase of people beyond the means of sul> 



