evolution and ethics and other essays-第34章

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letter；　he　will　discover　that　he　has　interpolated　the　word　〃wilfully〃
in　his　statement　of　my　〃argument；〃　which　runs　thus：　〃Shutting　his　eyes
to　the　necessary　consequences　of　the　struggle　for　life；　the　existence
of　which　he　admits　as　fully　as　any　Darwinian；　Mr。　Booth　tells　men
whose　evil　case　is　one　of　those　consequences　that　envy　is　a
corner…stone　of　our　competitive　system。〃　Mr。　　＇287＇　Cunningham's
physiological　studies　will　have　informed　him　that　the　process　of
〃shutting　the　eyes；〃　in　the　literal　sense　of　the　words；　is　not　always
wilful；　and　I　propose　to　illustrate；　by　the　crucial　instance　his　own
letter　furnishes；　that　the　〃shutting　of　the　eyes〃　of　the　mind　to　the
obvious　consequences　of　accepted　propositions　may　also　be　involuntary。
At　least；　I　hope　so。

　　　1。　〃Sooner　or　later；〃　says　Mr。　Cunningham；　〃the　population　problem
will　block　the　way　once　more。〃　What　does　this　mean；　except　that
multiplication；　excessive　in　relation　to　the　contemporaneous　means　of
support；　will　create　a　severe　competition　for　those　means？　And　this
seems　to　me　to　be　a　pretty　accurate　〃reflection　of　the　conceptions　of
Malthus〃　and　the　other　poor　benighted　folks　of　a　past　generation　at
whom　Mr。　Cunningham　sneers。

　　　2。　By　way　of　leaving　no　doubt　upon　this　subject；　Mr。　Cunningham
further　tells　us；　〃The　struggle　for　existence　is　always　going　on；　of
course；　let　us　thank　Darwin　for　making　us　realize　it。〃　It　is　pleasant
to　meet　with　a　little　gratitude　to　Darwin　among　the　epigoni　who　are
squabbling　over　the　heritage　he　conquered　for　them；　but　Mr。
Cunningham's　personal　expression　of　that　feeling　is　hasty。　For　it　is
obvious　that　he　has　not　〃realized〃　the　significance　of　Darwin's
teachingindeed；　I　fail　to　discover　in　Mr。　　Cunningham's　letter　any
sign　that　he　has　even　〃realized〃　what　＇288＇　he　would　be　at。　If　the
〃struggle　for　existence　is　always　going　on〃；　and　if；　as　I　suppose　will
be　granted；　industrial　competition　is　one　phase　of　that　struggle；　I
fail　to　see　how　my　conclusion　that　it　is　sheer　wickedness　to　tell
ignorant　men　that　〃envy〃　is　a　corner…stone　of　competition　can　be
disputed。

Mr。　Cunningham　has　followed　the　lead　of　that　polished　and　instructed
person；　Mr。　Ben　Tillett；　in　rebuking　me　for　（as　the　associates　say）
attacking　Mr。　　Booth's　personal　character。　Of　course；　when　I　was
writing；　I　did　not　doubt　that　this　very　handy；　though　not　too　clean；
weapon　would　be　used　by　one　or　other　of　Mr。　Booth's　supporters。　And　my
action　was　finally　decided　by　the　following　considerations：　I　happen
to　be　a　member　of　one　of　the　largest　life　insurance　societies。　There
is　a　vacancy　in　the　directory　at　present；　for　which　half　a　dozen
gentlemen　are　candidates。　Now；　I　said　to　myself；　supposing　that　one　of
these　gentlemen　（whose　pardon　I　humbly　beg　for　starting　the
hypothesis）；　say　Mr。　A。；　in　his　administrative　capacity　and　as　a　man
of　business；　has　been　the　subject　of　such　observations　as　a　Judge　on
the　Bench　bestowed　upon　Mr。　Booth；　is　he　a　person　for　whom　I　can
properly　vote？　And；　if　I　find；　when　I　go　to　the　meeting　of　the
policy…holders；　that　most　of　them　know　nothing　of　this　and　other
evidences　of　what；　by　the　mildest　judgment；　must　be　termed　Mr。　A。's
unfitness　for　administrative　＇289＇　responsibilities；　am　I　to　let　them
remain　in　their　ignorance？　I　leave　the　answer　and　its　application　to
men　of　sense　and　integrity。

The　mention　of　Mr。　Cunningham's　ally　reminds　me　that　I　have　omitted　to
thank　Mr。　Tillett　for　his　very　useful　and　instructive　letter；　and　I
hasten　to　repair　a　neglect　which　I　assure　Mr。　Tillett　was　more
apparent　than　real。　Mr。　　Tillett's　letter　is　dated　December　20th。　On
the　21st　the　following　pregnant　（however　unconscious）　commentary　upon
it　appeared　in　〃Reynolds's　Newspaper〃：…

〃I　have　always　maintained　that　the　Salvation　Army　is　one　of　the
mightiest　Socialistic　agencies　in　the　country；　and　now　Professor
Huxley　comes　in　to　confirm　that　view。　How　could　it　be　otherwise？　The
fantastic　religious　side　of　Salvationism　will　disappear　in　the　course
of　time；　and　what　will　be　left？　　A　large　number　of　men　and　women　who
have　been　organized；　disciplined；　and　taught　to　look　for　something
better　than　their　present　condition；　and　who　have　become　public
speakers　and　not　afraid　of　ridicule。　There　you　have　the　raw　materials
for　a　Socialist　army。〃

Mr。　Ben　Tillett　evidently　knows　Latin　enough　to　construe　proximus
ardet。

I　trust　that　the　public　will　not　allow　themselves　to　be　led　away　by
the　false　issues　which　are　＇290＇　dangled　before　them。　A　man　really　may
love　his　fellow…men；　cherish　any　form　of　Christianity　he　pleases；　and
hold　not　only　that　Darwinism　is　〃tottering　to　its　fall；〃　but；　if　he
pleases；　the　equally　sane　belief　that　it　never　existed；　and　yet　may
feel　it　his　duty　to　oppose；　to　the　best　of　his　capacity；　despotic
Socialism　in　all　its　forms；　and；　more　particularly；　in　its　Boothian
disguise。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　I　am；　Sir；　your　obedient　servant；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　T。H。　Huxley。

＇Persons　who　have　not　had　the　advantage　of　a　classical　education　might
fairly　complain　of　my　use　of　the　word　epigoni。　To　say　truth；　I　had
been　reading　Droysen's　〃Geschichte　des　Hellenismus；〃　and　the　familiar
historical　title　slipped　out　unawares。　In　replying　to　me；　however；　the
late　〃Fellow　of　University　College；〃　Oxford；　declares　he　had　to　look
the　word　out　in　a　Lexicon。　I　commend　the　fact　to　the　notice　of　the
combatants　over　the　desirability　of　retaining　the　present　compulsory
modicum　of　Greek　in　our　Universities。＇

＇291＇


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　IX。

The　〃Times；〃　December　30th；　1890

Sir；I　am　much　obliged　to　Messrs。　Ranger；　Burton；　and　Matthews　for
their　prompt　answer　to　my　questions。　I　presume　it　applies　to　all　money
collected　by　the　agency　of　the　Salvation　Army；　though　not　specifically
given　for　the　purposes　of　the　〃Christian　Mission〃　named　in　the　deed　of
1878；　to　all　sums　raised　by　mortgage　upon　houses　and　land　so　given；
and；　further；　to　funds　subscribed　for　Mr。　Booth's　various　projects；
which　have　no　apparent　reference　to　the　objects　of　the　〃Christian
Mission〃　as　defined　in　the　deed。　　Otherwise；　to　use　a　phrase　which　has
become　classical；　〃it　does　not　assist　us　much。〃　But　I　must　leave　these
points　to　persons　learned　in　the　law。

And；　indeed；　with　many　thanks　to　you；　Sir；　for　the　amount　of　valuable
space　which　you　have　allowed　me　to　occupy；　I　now　propose　to　leave　the
whole　subject。　My　sole　purpose　in　embarking　upon　an　enterprise　which
was　extremely　distasteful　to　me　was　to　prevent　the　skilful　〃General；〃
or　rather　〃Generals；〃　who　devised　the　plan　of　campaign　from　sweeping
all　before　them　with　a　rush。　I　found　the　pass　already　held　by　such
stout　defenders　as　Mr。　　Loch　and　the　Dean　＇292＇　of　Wells；　and；　with
your　powerful　help；　we　have　given　time　for　the　reinforcements；　sure　to
be　sent　by　the　abundant；　though　somewhat　slowly　acting；　common　sense
of　our　countrymen；　to　come　up。

I　can　no　longer　be　useful；　and　I　return　to　more　congenial　occupations。

　　　　　　　　I　am；　Sir；　your　obedient　servant；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　T。　H。　Huxley。

The　following　letter　appeared　in　the　〃Times〃　of　January　2nd；　1891：

〃Dear　Mr。　Tillett；I　have　not　had　patience　to　read　Professor　Huxley's
letters。　The　existence　of　hunger；　nakedness；　misery；　'death　from
insufficient　food；'　even　of　starvation；　is　certain；　and　no　agency　as
yet　reaches　it。　How　can　any　man　hinder　or　discourage　the　giving　of
food　or　help？　　Why　is　the　house　called　a　workhouse？　Because　it　is　for
those　who　cannot　work？　No；　because　it　was　the　house　to　give　work　or
bread。　The　very　name　is　an　argument。　I　am　very　sure　what　Our　Lord　and
His　Apostles　would　do　if　they　were　in　London。　Let　us　be　thankful　even
to　have　a　will　to　do　the　same。

〃Yours　faithfully；
Henry　E。　Card。　Manning。〃

＇293＇


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　X。

The　〃Times；〃　January　3rd；　1891

SIR；In　my　old　favourite；　〃The　Arabian　Nights；〃　the　motive　of　the
whole　series　of　delightful　narratives　is　that　the　sultan；　who　refuses
to　attend　to　reason；　can　be　got　to　listen　to　a　story。　May　I　try
whether　Cardinal　Manning　is　to　be　reached　in　the　same　way？　When　I　was
attending　the　meeting　of　the　British　Association　in　Belfast　nearly
forty　years　ago；　I　had　promised　to　breakfast　with　the　eminent　scholar
Dr。　Hincks。　Having　been　up　very　late　the　previous　night；　I　was　behind
time；　so；　hailing　an　outside　car；　I　said　to　the　driver　as　I　jumped　on；
〃Now　drive　fast；　I　am　in　a　hurry。〃　Whereupon　he　whipped　up　his　horse
and　set　off　at　a　hand…gallop。　Nearly　jerked　off　my　seat；　I　shouted；
〃My　good　friend；　do　you　know　where　I　want　to　go？〃　〃No；　yer　honner；〃
said　the　driver；　〃but；　any　way；　I　am　driving　fast。〃　I　have　never
forgotten　this　object…lesson　in　the　dangers　of　ill…regulated
enthusiasm。　We　are　all　invited　to　jump　on　to　the　Salvation　Army　car；
which　Mr。　Booth　is　undoubtedly　driving　very　fast。　Some　of　us　have　a
firm　conviction；　not　only　that　he　is　taking　a　very　different　direction
from　that　in　which　we　wish　to　go；　but　that；　before　long；　car　and
driver　will　come　to　grief。　Are　we　to　accept　＇294＇　the　invitation；　even
at　the　bidding　of　the　eminent　person　who　appears　to　think　himself
entitled　to　pledge　the　credit　of　〃Our　Lord　and　His　Apostles〃　in　favour
of　Boothism？

　　　I　am；　Sir；　your　obedient　servant；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　T。　H。　Huxley。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　XI。

The　〃Times；〃　January　13th；　1891

SIR；A　letter　from　Mr。　Booth…Clibborn；　dated　January　3rd；　appeared　in
the　〃Times〃　of　yesterday。　This　elaborate　document　occupies　three
columns　of　small　printspace　enough；　assuredly；　for　an　effectual
reply　to　the　seven　letters　of　mine　to　which　the　writer　refers；　if　any
such　were　forthcoming。　　Mr。　Booth…Clibborn　signs　himself　〃Commissioner
of　the　Salvation　Army　for　France　and　Switzerland；〃　but　he　says　that　he
accepts　my　〃challenge〃　without　the　knowledge　of　his　chiefs。
Considering　the　self…damaging　character　of　his　letter；　it　was；
perhaps；　hardly　necessary　to　make　that　statement。

Mr。　〃Commissioner〃　Booth…Clibborn　speaks　of　my　〃challenge。〃　I　presume
that　he　refers　to　my　request　for　information　about　the　authorship　and
fate　of　〃The　New　Papacy；〃　in　the　letter　＇295＇　published　in　the　〃Times〃
on　December　27th；　1890。　The　〃Commissioner〃　deals　with　this　matter　in
paragraph　No。　4　of　his　letter；　and　I　observe；　with　no　little
satisfaction；　that　he　does　not　venture　to　controvert　any　one　of　the
statements　of　my　witnesses。　He　tacitly　admits　that　the　author　of　〃The
New　Papacy〃　was　a　person　〃greatly　esteemed　in　Toronto；〃　and　that　he
held　〃a　high　position　in　the　army〃；　further；　that　the　Canadian
〃Commissioner〃　thought　it　worth　while　to　pay　the　printer's　bill；　in
order　that　the　copies　already　printed　off　might　be　destroyed　and　the
pamphlet　effectually　suppressed。　Thus　the　essential　facts　of　the　case
are　admitted　and　established　beyond　question。

How　does　Mr。　Booth…Clibborn　try　to　explain　them　away？

〃Mr。　Sumner；　who　wrote　the　little　book　in　a　hot　fit；　soon　regretted　it
（as　any　man　would　do　whose　conscience　showed　him　in　a　calmer　moment
when　his　'respectability'　returned　with　his　repentance；　that　he　had
grossly　misrepresented）；　and　just　before　it　appeared　offered　to　order
its　suppression　if　the　army　would　pay　the　costs　already　incurred；　and
which　he　was　unable　to　bear。〃

〃The　New