increase in number, spread, and supplant other tribes. In a tribe thus
rendered more numerous there would always be a rather greater chance of
the birth of other superior and inventive members. If such men left
children to inherit their mental superiority, the chance of the birth
of still more ingenious members would be somewhat better, and in a very
small tribe decidedly better. Even if they left no children, the tribe
would still include their blood-relations; and it has been ascertained
by agriculturists (4. I have given instances in my Variation of Animals
under Domestication, vol. ii. p. 196.) that by preserving and breeding
from the family of an animal, which when slaughtered was found to be
valuable, the desired character has been obtained.
Turning now to the social and moral faculties. In order that primeval
men, or the ape-like progenitors of man, should become social, they
must have acquired the same instinctive feelings, which impel other
animals to live in a body; and they no doubt exhibited the same general
disposition. They would have felt uneasy when separated from their
comrades, for whom they would have felt some degree of love; they would
have warned each other of danger, and have given mutual aid in attack
or defence. All this implies some degree of sympathy, fidelity, and
courage. Such social qualities, the paramount importance of which to
the lower animals is disputed by no one, were no doubt acquired by the
progenitors of man in a similar manner, namely, through natural
selection, aided by inherited habit. When two tribes of primeval man,
living in the same country, came into competition, if (other
circumstances being equal) the one tribe included a great number of
courageous, sympathetic and faithful members, who were always ready to
warn each other of danger, to aid and defend each other, this tribe
would succeed better and conquer the other. Let it be borne in mind how
all-important in the never-ceasing wars of savages, fidelity and
courage must be. The advantage which disciplined soldiers have over
undisciplined hordes follows chiefly from the confidence which each man
feels in his comrades. Obedience, as Mr. Bagehot has well shewn (5. See
a remarkable series of articles on Physics and Politics, in the
Fortnightly Review, Nov. 1867; April 1, 1868; July 1, 1869, since
separately published.), is of the highest value, for any form of
government is better than none. Selfish and contentious people will not
cohere, and without coherence nothing can be effected. A tribe rich in
the above qualities would spread and be victorious over other tribes:
but in the course of time it would, judging from all past history, be
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