268 A Review of the Modern Doctrine of Evolution. (April, 
portions in which these applications are made, will depend on the 
moral development of him who makes them. Moral density and 
intelluctual stupidity (often nearly allied) will see in these two laws 
only the struggle for material power, and the survival of the strong- 
est. They will hardly urge in these days, as they would infallibly 
have done had they lived a few centuries ago, that the strongest 
means the hardest hitter, or the most successful assassin, but they 
will probably believe that this pre-eminent position belongs to the 
most wealthy. From a purely dynamical standpoint this position 
is correct, yet it might be a useful question for such advocates to 
consider why it is that physical oppression and assassination 
should be less successful avenues to power than they once were. 
There are two reasons why man does not grant the first place 
in his esteem to physical force. The first principles of morals are 
acquired in the struggle for existence. The idea of meum and 
tuum was speedily developed so soon as men associated together ; 
and the habit of justice has doubtless been formed by the insist- 
ence of every man on his own rights, and by the power of com- 
binations of men to control those who may from superior strength 
or other cause seek to violate the rights of property. Thus law 
` originated, and from the earliest history of the race to the present 
day it has educated the barbarous and semi-barbarous to civiliza- 
-tion. It is then easy to perceive that man gives the highest 
place in his affections to the ost just ; but there is yet another | 
reason why this should be the case. 
The reproductive instinct in the lower animals has developed 
into social affections, and these form a part of the character of 
the higher animals and, in an especial degree, of man. The 
sentiments of sympathy and benevolence are probably outgrowths 
of the same. While the rational faculties are concerned in the 
knowledge of right, these sentiments are a source of the Zove of 
right. This disposition is trusted by men as leading to the practice 
of right, in cases where the power to enforce it is not immediately 
present. The struggle for existence then among men ranges all 
the way from a rivalry of physical force to a rivalry for the pos- 
session of human esteem and affection. The robber and assassin 
of the lowest human races are represented by the slanderer and 
defamer in the higher. The ultimate prosperity of the just, 
asserted and foretold by prophets and poets, is but a forecast of 
the doctrine of the survival of the fittest. The unjust are sooner 
