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evolution and ethics and other essays-第53部分

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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 ye
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