The herald., 1893-06-25
PROHIBITED MARRIAGES.

The prohibition by statute OF marri-
ages within certain degrees OF oonssn-
guinity is certain to be commended on
grounds OF public policy. Whether that
degree Of prohibition should extend to
first cousins is still an open questio n
with psychologists and statesmen. Just
now the legislature OF Kentucky is
wrestling with this proposition. but we
think that body would reach better
practical results II it would consider the
subject OF marriage between persons in
whose blood runs consumption or other
incurable diseases that are often inher-
tied from the parents and too often
transmitted to the children. Why
should persons afflicted with congenital
deafness or dumbness be permitted TO
intermarry2 The chances are 30 largely
in favor of the aillction reappearing in
the children that the state would have
the right to step in and exercise its
power to prohibit the perpetuation of
such calamity in their descendants.
The issue Of two perssns tainted with
insanity will either be tainted with
inesnity or be idiots. This line OF afflic-
ton would stop here, for two idiots can
not perpetuate their race. II is true
that deaf and dumb people sometimes
have children who are supplied with
the misaing senses, but all authorities
agree in the fact that the deficiency will
reappear al some time In the offsprings
of such marriages. Insanity sometimes
akips generation or two, to reappear
as hereditary trait in the direct line or
in come correlative branch. Byron'e
grandfather WAS an instance, and Byron
himself kept up the rule.
In consumption we frequently sec the
unquestionable slgns of heredity.
Whilst the marriage OF q strong, healthy
man with consumptive woman may
help the matter and modify the trans-
mission OF the disease from the mother
to the offspring, yet the children OF
parents, one OF whom ia consumptive,
as a rule have a tendency to that dread
disease, and seldom altogether escape
from its deadly effects.
One of the most interesting problems
OF modern social sciences is as to whe ther
persons afflicted with consumption or
other diseases that run in the blood
and are known to be OF transmigsable
character should be permitted to per-
petuate the curse to their progeny.
This question is engaging the thought
Of eminent physicians in every civilized
country. A distinguished German col
lector Of vital statistics has arrived at
the conclusion that in doubtful cases no
one should be allowed to marry unless
he or she can pass successful medical
examination to show that the children
OF such marriages shall not be 30 def.
oient in health or in the full endowments
of nature ae to be likely to become a
charge on the community. No doubt
this conclusion carried into the statutes
would be in some instances cruel but
il would be "cruel only to be kind" for
we can imagine nothing more self
iah or heartieas vh~- sv. -
pie to deliberately assume the
relationship that will result in
bringing innocent children into the
world afflicted with incurable disease or
carrying with them an infrmity OF mind
that must be constant source OF
misery to themselves and all who come
in contact with them.
Il is the duty of the state, as far as
it can decently and properly do &c, to
encourage the heslthful development Of
it's people. 1t, of course, has not the
power of parental selection. neither can
it exercise the Office Of directing the
etirpculture OF tho human family on
the plans pursued in the evolution of the
beat breeds OF animals but it can GER
tainly discourage, by prohibitory statute,
the marriage of parents who will In all
probability transmlt so their offspring
incurable disease, or deficiency in the
eenseu, or infrmitv OF the mind--all of
which are liable to place at some time
burthens on the state which it has a
right to provide against. In the ideal
republic of the ancient philosopher no
man or woman was allowed to marry
unless he or she could chow perfection
of mind and body. The result was ex-
pected to produce an ideal which the
world has never beheld. The notion
was, perhaps, carrying sound theory
to an extreme. But there is no reason
why victims of disease should be al
lowed to 60 on transmitting it to pos
terity without restraint.
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WE NOTICE that the HiberniR Savings