Kansas City daily journal., 1897-02-08
THE RESTRICTION OF THE UNFIT.

THE RESTRICTION OF THE UNFIT.
Two articles relating to the problem of
the Unfit have recently appeared in the
Humanitarian, a magazine devoted to ad-
vanced thought on social progress. The
first of these papers was written by Mr..
Arnold White and was entitled "A Lethal
House for the Unfit The second, writ
ten by Mr.. P. C. Standing, reviews and
supplements the first. The former was
so strikingly bold that it was bitterly at
tackled by various writers, but the latter
temporizes and reasons without detracting
from the manifest necessity of restrictive
regulations.
1t must be far beyond the hope of even
such a daring reformer as Mr.. White that
his arguments in favor of the legitimized
strangling of those who are unfit to live
shall receive a moments serious consid-
Grafton in any civilized land, even though
everyone must admit that the physical and
mental condition of the human race would
be substantially benefited by such a radi-
cal course. Even construed on the broad
est possible grounds of humanity. the ad-
vocate of the destruction of the useless
must stop when he comes to the line that
separates mankind from the rest of crea-
ton.
But without taking into consideration the
brutal remedies proposed by this writer
the evils at which they aim cry aloud for
correction. With absolute respect for the
sanctity of human life, even when it has be-
come hideous and dangerous, one must
acknowledge the necessity of preventing
propagation of the unfit.
When it is remembered how much has
been said and written on this subject it
is really astonishing how little has been
done. The marriage and the giving in
marriage of the physically incurable. the
mentally unbalanced and the morally de-
praved is allowed to proceed without any
individual protest. Few men have dared
TO stand for healthful discrimination in
this matter. Ministers of the gospel
judges of the courts and others authorized
to perform the marriage ceremony have
been almost wholly. Indifferent to every
consideration save that of consent.
Even in this age of legislative mania,
statesmen have sieered clear of this diff
cult but terrible and inevitable problem
Yet the time will come when the subject
will compel attention and treatment. One
does not need to indorse Nordau's the
ories of degeneration to see the increasing
gravity of unrestricted marriage, resulting,
in many instances, in the multiplication OF
mental and physical maladies and the pro-
mitigation of crime tendencies.
1t is particularly necessary that the
Anglo-SaXou race should give this subject
attention. In France, Germany and other
countries where military service is exacted
through conscription, the average of men,
tai and physical being is exalted Just
what should be done in England and the
United States is difficult TO define. for the
operation of restrictive measures would
necessarily be fraught with much conten-
tion, mankind is sensitive at mention of
its intirmities. But If, as scientists agree,
VIC have nine kinds of idiocy and six kinds
of madness, not to speak OF the familiar
forms of hopeless physical ailments and in
corrigible depravity. something should be
done to prevent the propagation of these
incurable blemishes on the human race.