The Descent of Man

them. In Spain alone some of the best men—
those who doubted and questioned, and without
doubting there can be no progress—were
eliminated during three centuries at the rate of
a thousand a year. The evil which the Catholic
Church has thus effected is incalculable, though
no doubt counterbalanced to a certain, perhaps
to a large, extent in other ways; nevertheless,
Europe has progressed at an unparalleled rate.
The remarkable success of the English as colonists,
compared to other European nations, has
been ascribed to their "daring and persistent
energy"; a result which is well illustrated by
comparing the progress of the Canadians of
English and French extraction; but who can say
how the English gained their energy? There is
apparently much truth in the belief that the
wonderful progress of the United States, as
well as the character of the people, are the results
of natural selection; for the more energetic,
restless, and courageous men from all parts