The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-04
SOCIETY PROTECTING ITSELF.

SOCIETY PROTECTING ITSELF.
Like begets like is an old saying, and
involves a profound physiological truth
1t is truth, too, which many phtYoso-
piers have sought to give practical appli-
cation to in the perpetuation of the race
But all such efforts have been OF the
most ephemeral sort. The principle or
natural selection is In operation among
human beings as completely as It is
among the lower animals
The heritage of crime and disease which
is the birthright of so many unfortunate
beings through no fault of theirs, hut
purely because of the criminal neglect
Of society. We have made visible TO us
on every hand. Jails and rerormator1es.
homes" and hospitals represent the
financial side of the burden which we
have assumed because of our refusal to
look the problem OF the reproduction Of
the congenitalIy criminal and defective
members Of society squarely in the face,
or, indeed to look at it at all.
Primitive Christianity has taught us
many truths; but it's teachings are far
from being unmixed with error. We have
today in full operation a system of laws
and social regulations governing the
marrying and giving in marriage of our
people which are the product of personal
and social pride, of a false emotional SEN
timent mIsnamed love. which has been
developed through our literature, and of
unmiXed egotism. The older countries
have many safeguards in operation IN
this behalf Of which we know nothing and
care less. We exact a magistrates GER
titcate and a civil or religious ceremony,
and there we leave the settlement of the
great problem involved until It presents
itself to US In a more or less brief time
through the medium of the divorce court,
and of homes for the delinquents and In
curables Of both sexes.
The only trace of even the mast rudi-
mentary beginning which has appeared
or a remedy for all this crude and almost
brutal disregard of prime duty has pre-
scented itself recently in the form of leg
islation proposed In Colorado to prevent
unsuitable marriages The plan adopted
represents system of county marriage
boards. These bodies are to consist Of
three physicians of different schools, one
Of the physicians thus chosen to be,
wherever possible, a woman. These
boards are to have authority, for the
time at least, only to prevent such mar
riages among persons who fail to reach
the standard of mental and physical fit
ness established by the state.
The lines on which this legislation is
laid down are perfectly safe and con-
sentative, so far as can be seen. No jur-
isdiction is given unless either one or
both of the parties are plainly united to
enter the marriage state by reason of a
vicious, a diseased or a defective per-
sonality. The virtue of such a system
lies in a great measure in its recognition
Of the principle that no advances are
insisted on which are not quite likely to
be sustained by an enlightened public in
telhgence and judgment Only those are
denied the privilege of marriage who pal
pably should not be permitted to repro
duce themselves.
A few days ago young man landed at
the barge office in New York from one
Of the British West India islands. He
had passed quarantine examination, and
was about to be landed in the city when
something peculiar in the expression of
his face impressed itself on one of the
official physicians. This gentleman made
further inquiry and examination and
found that the young man was engaged
to be married, after a temporary absence
from his home, which was occasioned
by what was believed to be some tenn
porary indisposition. A full examination
revealed the young man to be leper.
Had this young man not passed under
the scrutiny Of an exceptionally observ-
ant physician there is no reason to be-
lieve that he might not have carried out
his purpose OF immediate marriage, and