The record-union., 1894-02-08

It is because we attach to the word what
rightly belongs to the thing, that an act OF
nature Is stigmatized as d crime.
When women, prompted by their own
affectionate and generous instincts and
regardless of ceremonies. have become
mothers, our social Juggernaut eruSheS
them remorselessly. 1t brands them as
outcasts, and thus they hang, drown, or
prostitute themselves. Holocausts OF
little ones, innocent as those of Bethle-
hein, are annually sacrificed TO the fear OF
this wooden god. What! say you, would
you permit "naturaP' children among
US? Most certainly. All children are
natural except the offspring Of enforced
and unnatural marriages.
1t Is evident to all observers that the
prudent and wise are cautious in the ex-
ercise of their creative powers, whereas
the least tit are the most reck less of con-
sequences. Their criminal folly is thus
perpetuated as well as its evils. Who
then, it may be asked, shall Judge as to
ntness We reply that a jury composed
OF doctors of both sexes could, on con-
sultation, easily decide as to a mans
general capacity for marriage. Ii it be
said that the unrestricted association of
the sexes would increase immortality,
we deny it ana affirm the contrary.
moral than others, yet they are brought
into much closer intimacy with their
female patients. These things are regu-
lated by habit and self-respect.
1t is sheer childishness to shut our eyes
to facts or to ignore the brutal prohigacy
in our midst. Mirandas encounter Cali
bans at every street corner Nor is it in
the classic woods of Greece where i'm
pure satyrs watched furtively from be-
hind their leafy covers for rarely pass
ing nymph. Our modern satyrs are ele-
gantly dressed, and leer openly at every
pretty woman III our public places.
Nature SteriliZes women of immoral
lives. Immoral men should be steriliZed
also, but this can only be done by artiti-
cial means. Jesus said: ''Some are born
eunuchs, some are made eunuchs, and
others have become eunuchs for the king
dom of Heavens sake" The sanity
Origen emasculated himself. What has
been done from religion, luxury or choice
may be done again from necessity. 1t
might easily be made physical impoSsi-
bility for criminals, hereditary paupers,
imbeciles, profligates and others suffer-
ing from gross bodily or mental defects
TO propagate their tailings and their vices.
The scientific Improvement of our race
is one OF the great measures of the fu-
ture. and Will be taken in hand as soon as
the nation is sufficiently enlightened as
to its necessity. We cannot go on forever
permitting swarms of weak and depraved
creatures to flood society with lunatics,
Idiots, criminals and other defective OFF,
spring. Their maintenance and control
alone constitute serious menace to the
welfare OF the industrious and deserving
poor. Their contagious and vicious eX-
ample outweighs the efforts of mission
aries and retormers, who are, as it were,
forever rolling a SiSyphean stone. We
Danish or isolate physical leprosy, and
thus eXtirpate it. Moral leprosy may
have to be subjected 10 similar treatment.
The Spartans afforded remarkable
instance OF what could be done by selec-
ton, careful breeding and systematic
education. little State OF few thou
sand citizens oveTawe Greece and de-
fed the countess hosts of Persia. Mara
thon, Salamis and Platae ring out clear
and spirit-stirring after lapse of twenty
four centuries.
The early Romans retained much of the
Lacedsemonians' spirit. They took es-
pecial pains to preserve purity Of blood.
When Cato lent his wife to Hortensius
1t was from no immoral motive, but from
high sense of public duty. Hortensius
was ''goodly man." his physical and
mental eXcellencies were appreciated by
his friend, and therefore he selected him
as his deputy to raise up children to the
State. And Cato is esteemed a model
citizen and patriot. One of the greatest
punishments inflicted on the Romans was
the withdrawal of the privilege of lend
ing their wives.
Spartan and Roman requirements diff
fered rom ours, and thus our methods
must differ also from theirs. We should,
however, pursue the same object-the
mental and physical perfection Of our
race-by means suitable TO our time and
place. Marriage should be resolutely
discouraged where the parties are unfit
through any disqualification. Where a
community has taken upon itself the
burden of the support of all, it should
have the power of regulating the action
Of individuals in SO far as they create the
difficulty. We prevent the inmates of
our prisons, WorkhOuses and asylums
from sexual Intercourse. We even sep
arate the married. What should hinder
us from carrying out the principle
farther, and to its full logical extent?
4 man imbued with these ideas would
no more think of marrying woman of
defective physique or one possessing
hereditary taint, than he would OF
purchasing broken Winded racer to run
in the derby. However fair she may be,
he would institute careful inquiry into
her family history before proposing. And
a woman would do the same. She would
decline 10 become the mOLner OF line OF
puny and dyspeptic weaklings. Fathers
would mate their daughters at least as
carefully as they mate their dogs and
horses. And the State would make it a
serious crime for an unhealthy parent TO
produce a child. a license to marry
should be given by Medical Board, and
not by priest. Marriage then would be
a sacred privilege; it would be highly
valued, and SO held in such honor; it
would be a mark of the worthiest and
would conduce to general emulation in
worth. In word, it would be a reign of
the fit, instead, as now, of the unfit. So
ciety would stamp out disease and crime,
as it has stamped out the rinderpest.
Under such conditions what a glorious
country would this country OF ours be-?
Modesty and manhood would stand fore
most. Wealth would give place to
worth. Beauty and vigor would be
everywhere visible. The dream of the
Psalmist would be realized. Our sons
would grow up las the young palm trees,
and our daughters like the polished
corners of the temple"
80 thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day.
Thou canst not then be false 10 any man"