Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-02-09
The Latest Boston NOtiOn-The In
sfitute Of HereditT.

stitute of Heredity.
We have received a communication
from ''The Institute Of Heredity, estab-
lished in Boston. November %, 1880,
explaining the purposes, ideas and aims
Of the gentlemen IL that enterprise. The
institute is open to all persons who de-
sire to join it. When it shall have grown
sufficiently in numbers it proposes to
establish local branches in each State,
and probably in each county.
The New Orleans Democrat. which has
also been favored with a circular, says
The doctrine and ideas on which the
association is founded are that many of
the diseases now prevailing-moral and
mental, as well as physical-are heredi
tary and are transmitted from father to
son. This is confessedly true Of con-
sumption, heart disease, scrofula, and
number Of other complaints from which
humanity suffers. The Institute goes
further, however, aud holds that vice
and crime are congenital, and that people
who are born with theft and murder in
their blood, viii steal and kill; that i'm
prisOnment cannot cure or check these
tendencies, which are in the blood; and
that, while hanging viii stop crime by
taking the criminal from the world, it
viii not have any good effect on other
criminals, and will not brighten them
from their evil ways. In other words,
The Institute holds the doctrine of
predeStinstiOn; that the causes, crimes
and vices Of all are laid down for them
in advance, in consequence Of the blood
in their veins, and that they can avoid
this only by death. Il is to prevent these
hereditary vices as far as possible, to
study the causes of hereditary crimes,
and diseases and their remedies, that the
institute is founded. If its principles
are put into operation at once, IL all the
disease and crime can be gradually
stamped out, we will leave this world in
the possession Of a purer and better race.
To attain this great end large number
Of gentlemen throughout the country,
one at least from every State in the
Union, have associated themselves. They
extend an invitation to all TO Join with
them in the movement they have in
hand, but want, of course, those whose
intelligence will enable them to give
some assistance. 1t is proposed to es-
tablish a library and lecture room in
Boston, where the various points which
will come up in an investigation of this
great subject may be thoroughly dis
cussed and plans agreed on for the i'm
provement and amelioration of the hui
man race"
Assuming the doctrine and ideas" of
the association to be correct (which some
will not admit, it is difficult to under
stand how the Institute of Heredity is
to accomplish the reform it proposes. In
their efforts to override predestinstion
and reform humanity as it comes from
the hand Of the Creator, it is hardly to
be supposed these Boston prOgressives
will undertake to determine what per
sons are fit to marry, and what children
are worthy TO live, and ruthlessly put to
death all who do not come up to their
standard of physical and moral fitness.
Ridicule of so grave matter would seem
to be out Of place, and yet we suspect
the poet of the New York World had
been thinking about the Boston Institute
of Heredity when he penned the fol
lowing lines:
In ancient times. says Mr.. Ruggles,
All living things went through some struggles,
The fox. quite willy in his habits
Would lie in wait TO gobble rabbits
While these were nibbhng old Marin BabbageS
Garden truck, like sass and cabbages;
And when he'd eaten many rabbits
He grew like them in all his habits,
And took TO nibbling leaves and grasses
With cabbages and other sasses,
Until at last no more were left
For Bunny, who. of sass bereft,
Then took to eating wolves and foxes,
Tigers and such like paradoxes;
And thus became mOnstrOus cute
CaFniverOus and cantanSerous brute,
Whom men did chase with much persistence
In lively struggle for existence,
Until at last ne grew him wings,
And with the lark in heaven now sings.
So thou. young woman, fly with me
And cultivate heredity.
Come haste thee, haste and fly with me
And be a cultured B0stonee.