Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-21
WARNING ny Two PRESIDENTS.
D~eliverances ehu-the scripturaI Com
mand, "Be FruitfuI and Multiply
Washington Post

washington Post.
The president OF the United States and
the president Of Harvard university have,
almost simultaneously, made serious and
weighty deliverances upon the most i'm
portant Of all questions. The Harvard pres
ident finds that the graduates of that great
institution are doing comparatively little
in the way of fulfilling the command "Be
fruitful and multiply Many OF them do
not marry, and those who do marry have
but few children. The same rule applies
to the literally educated men and women
of America generally, to the graduates of
colleges and universities in every section.
The old-time custom of early marriage is
no longer tolerated in the upper strata Of
society, and the sons and daughters Of par
ents who were proud Of large families are
careful in their avoidance OF that example.
President Roosevelt, in his letter to Miss
Var Voist. which was printed in a recent
Issue of the Post, discusses the subject of
race suicide with his customary ~frankness
and directness.
II it were possible for the Post to be
pessimistic as to the republics future, a
cause could be readily found in our social
statistics. Nations and thoir governments
are mot guaranteed perpetuity. Given a
9kNoNJ 80 VI Nh1 OAANA oA1 III
Americans who have descended from the
best European stocks and a continued in
fiux of the worst European stocks, with
their swarms Of children, it must be only a
question Of years when the latter will domi-
nate. What could be expected Of such domi-
nation?
The st. Louis Republic quotes Herbert
Spencer in attempted refutation of Presi-
dent Roosevelt's contention in favor OF an
increased birth rate. The republic says
that Spencer, discussing the law OF popula-
ton, took the position that for a time in
the history of a race great fertility-which
he termed ."excessive"-conduces toward
advancement. II is a phase of evolution
But when a certain growth is attained fer
tility is no longer a cause of progress, and
further evolution necessarily entails a de-
cline in fertility. The Republic says:
"This proposition is supported by reason
1t is easily within the comprehension o.
the average intellect. Stated differently
It is that after a race has by its fertility
gained a certain numerical strength III
force must go to the development of in,
dividuals at the expense OF further in.
creased numbers. In short. the quality o.
the race Is improved at the expense o
quantity.
Nc one will care to dispute Mr., Roose
velt's assertions. The big family idea 4
wholesome and Christian. 1t appeals to tn,
race pride and the race Instinct. But keel
the quality commensurate. Let there b
bigness OF equipment so that each indi
vidual may be developed. Mere number
will avail future America nothing unles
the numbers individually possess character
quality and strength.
Mere bigness Of population Of itsel
means nothing. Witness the ancient India
races. Mere bigness Of the family withou
capacity and efficiency is Of no value to tn
I race. Vide the Mexican peon living in
} dirt floor hut swarming with infant popu
~lation."
} One might concede the truth of Spencer
proposition and still be quite unable to I'm
in IL any encouragement for hope Of thi
republics distant future II the small famil
idea continues TO prevail among the de
scendants Of the British, the German an
/ Scandinavian stocks, and the tide OF sue
> immigration as we are now getting cor
tinues to roll in. We are not protestir
against the reception OF this tide. "
5 must not shut the gates Of mercy on maj
e kind simply because II has become Il
4 American fashion to shirk the parent
l. once and responsibility. But Il is well
n understand the inevitable. Impairment
the quality Of citizenship is the one gre
| menace Of the republics future.