Natural selection

To study the ethnic composition of peoples and from here to derive their relative properties, their chances of success in the struggle for existence, to determine, if possible, numerically the degree of superiority of the advanced nations of the world - such is the hope of modern anthropologists.
Each nation, from an ethnic point of view, is a series of layers, consisting of identical elements, but only mixed together in different proportions, varying from base to the very top. Higher anthropological elements may be found in greater numbers in the uppermost layers. The morphological structure is not only different in different classes of population, but it also varies with time. Observation shows that the same layering system is not retained for a long time.
“Generally speaking, these elements are always arranged in the same order in the degree of their density, but their proportion varies in each layer, depending on the epoch. If we eliminate the hypothesis of immigration and emigration, then when studying a progressive nation, we can state the enrichment of the upper layers with higher elements; if the people are in a period of decline, there is a desire to establish uniformity in the composition of the layers, and the higher elements tend to disappear everywhere.
As part of a known population, individuals of one particular race may be in such a significant amount that all other individuals can be thrown out of the account; "Then they say, for the sake of simplification, that this population is a pure race." With this definition of race, it represents the concept of a zoological order; she has no permanent connection with any particular adverb. It should also be carefully distinguished from race in a historical sense, formed by individuals of different races, united over the centuries into one state, subordinated to the same institutions, guided by monotonous beliefs.
These "secondary" races, for which it would be good to find another name, are less stable, although still certain combinations and differ from the combinations produced by the same but differently grouped elements next to them. Lapuzh assumes to call such groups “etnes” or “etnies”; they are most often in antagonism with the zoological race. The psychological study of the races that make up a given people presents the greatest difficulties.
If it were possible to study a known number of purebred individuals and then from observations of these single representatives to deduce their inherent general character, then we would obtain precious data; but “pure blood” is an unattainable ideal. Even when the physical features of a race are clearly found in the individual, for example, in a typical Norman or overt there will always be some invisible traces of the mixing of the races, especially in such a complex organ as the brain.
A son may be a poured out portrait of his father and not be morally like him. On the other hand, if different races are mixed in the environment of the same nation, then such a complex mixture of characters occurs, the laws of which are even more difficult to find than the laws of the transmission of physical attributes. The various organic features of parents can be transmitted independently of one another, so that, for example, the same eye color does not necessarily imply the same length of the skull, or even identical hair color.
It is like a kaleidoscope, where several pieces of multi-colored glasses are combined in one way or another, without any internal connection: one of them does not necessarily imply the neighborhood of the other. In the moral sphere, it is impossible to allow such a complete lack of solidarity between different abilities and aspirations: a strong will affects sensitivity and understanding, and vice versa.
There are, therefore, laws by which complex characters are drawn up — laws that are very little known to us and which lead to very complex resultants. The same kind of psychic chemistry is observed on a grand scale among an entire people: here we find the same results on an enlarged scale, but even more difficult to analyze.