180 
THE DESCENT OF MAN. 
Part L 
Obscure as is the problem of the advance of civilisation,, 
we can at least see that a nation which produced during 
a lengthened period the greatest number of highly intel- 
lectual, energetic, brave, patriotic, and benevolent men,, 
would generally prevail over less favoured nations. 
Natural selection follows from the struggle for exist- 
ence ; and this from a rapid rate of increase. It is 
impossible not bitterly to regret, but whether wisely 
is another question, the rate at which man tends to 
increase ; for this leads in barbarous tribes to infan- 
ticide and many other evils, and in civilised nations to 
abject poverty, celibacy, and to the late marriages of 
the prudent. But as man suffers from the same physical 
evils with the lower animals, lie has no right to expect 
an immunity from the evils consequent on the struggle 
for existence. Had he not been subjected to natural 
selection, assuredly he would never have attained to 
the rank of manhood. When we see in many parts 
of the world enormous areas of the most fertile land 
peopled by a few wandering savages, but which are 
capable of supporting numerous happy homes, it might 
be argued that the struggle for existence had not been 
sufficiently severe to force man upwards to his highest 
standard. Judging from all that we know of man and 
the lower animals, there has always been sufficient 
variability in the intellectual and moral faculties, for 
their steady advancement through natural selection. 
No doubt such advancement demands many favourable 
concurrent circumstances ; but it may well be doubted 
whether the most favourable would have sufficed, had 
not the rate of increase been rapid, and the consequent 
struggle for existence severe to an extreme degree. 
On the evidence that all civilised nations were once bar- 
barons .— As we have had to consider the steps by which 
