St. Landry democrat., 1882-03-04
THE PRIDE OF BLOOD.
observation-disclosures |

We read recently in the columns of the Plea
yune an article on this subject, which especially
attracted our attention, by reason of a p1quan-
cy OF expression, certain pellucld ana even
STYLE unusual in the journalistic essays OF the
day. We dissent however. from some OF the
conclusions, rather suggested, than openly de-
clared by the writer.
Opinion i'll this country, in regard to the
claims of ancestry and blood, is in a rather
chaotic condition. On the one hand very ap-
parent analogy with the lower animals sug-
gests that the human race is amenable to GER
tain laws. dominating i'll the propagation OF the
species. Nothing is better established than that
blood will tell in the breeding of the lower an
imals, and experienced breeders can calculate,
with almost mathematical certainty, on the
production of certain points, which may be de-
sired in the progeny. On the other hand,
profound prejudice against the application OF
these analogies to the human species has
grown out OF considerations, both OF a political
and religious origin. The democratic instinct
is offended by theories, which imply the eXls-
tence OF derivitive distinctions; while the wis
dom and Justice of the Creator seems to be i'm
plicated in system or creation, which gives to
one creature capacities for actlon, and lnlnlunl
ties from temptation, which are denied to an
other The force of this prejudice is also aug
lnented by resentment against claims to supe-
riority based on merely artificial arrangements
OF society.
It must be remembered, too, that the decs-
ion of the question, relating to the force OF
these laws of genesis, in their application to
the human race is rendered more dlfflcuit by
the modifying influence of education and by
the imperfect observation of all the facts
hearing on it. 1t is very rarely, especially IN
this country, that persistent adherence TO
scheme of generation enables us to make de-
ductions on the subject. In the great mixture
OF genealogies, which we observe about us, it is
extremely difficult to secure the instances,
which, Lord Bacon teaches US, are necessary
for a safe deduction,
But oy grouping certain classes OF society to-
gether, although these classes are not abso-
1utely separate by clear lines OF demarkation,
ffxrn n
gies, to which we have reference, have full
force. There are certain criminal classes in
our large cities, which have been subjected to
definite law Of heredity. They are criminal
because the they are born SO. Take the pic
lures in the Police Gazette, tfor even the Po-
lice Gazette may be useful in an illustration of
some very revoltlng specimen OF the human
| race), and you can see the vulpine look, the
steaithy slouch, which has been established
in the race, just as the confident friendly ex-
preston is established in the face OF the point
| er dog. We instinctively apply the converse of
this proposition, in the estimation of classes Of
society, the other end of the social scale. And
! within the underlined boundaries between the
various classes we are compelled to admit,
| that hereditary influence is existing; a
strong and persistent force, in the develop
| ment of Democracy in America.
| The decision OF this question is not without
bearing on the practical interests of society TO-
day. Agreat tide OF opinion is swelling against
the traditional and instructive feeling of the
Anglo-saxon race on this point. That feeling
/ Is C0dfdcUSfIEe0 DIS 1ETttIOHdl pfcluulCc, anu
even one of the most distinguished of Southern
writers, Mr.. Geo. W. Cable, is devoting his
pen to the declaration of the new evange1,
| We believe that the old instinct is right, and
| founded on essential and necessary principles
of human society, and that the new doctrine
| is wrong, and based on hasty generalizations,
aud ineonclusive postulates. The evolution OF
society to its highest forms or perfection is
| to be accomplised by the survival OF the fttest
| and the fittest can survive only by reason OF
social arrangements, which protect them from
contamination by the most unfit. This is the
process established in Gods providence, and is
| the basis of that inscrutable law, which pro
yides that the fathers shall eat the grapes, and
| the children's teeth shall not be set on edge
| Datra ler, sed lez ita, seripta.