The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-16
PRACTICAL EUGENICS =.

PRACTICAL EtGENItS
The tendency of the Legislature, as shown in
several bills already introduced to take up the
subject OF eugenics is healthful sign. There
has been entirely too much hesitancy, and
sometimes false modesty. in the consideration
Of measures which look to the production OF
a stronger and healthier OF men and wo-
Mha:-~eaIA not be countenanced for
moment in the of an animal is authorized
in the case of the highest animal OF all. Now
and again a wave of discussion goes through
the country to whether idiots should be edu-
~ent..t merely chained; TO whether the
mentally deficient should be granted certain
rights. matrimony AZ to treatment as wards
OF the State Of those whose hrutalized and
criminal tendencies bring them into the class
broadly termed degenerate" All Of this talk,
called forth az it is by conditions. is superficial
and subordinate to the real need, which is
confinement of marriage by the State to those
who show their fitness to embrace 1t. Asylums
are full of inmates The poorhouses turn away
applicants Hospitals by the. score run for
the peculiar benefit OF tho wel-to-do among
those who have been born deficient in body or
mind Specialists by the hundred thrive on
the treatment of diseases which can have only
one origin OF improper marriages The streets
team with the outcasts, the unfit. the helpless
victims of vice and poverty and yet the men,
tiou of eugenics is more than apt to bring
smile Nothing better Instances the strange
shiftlessness OF humanity than this cheerful
| disregard OF The obvious, this wastefu accep-
lance of burdens meaning misery to hundreds
! Of thousands of unfortunates
Of the measures introduced in the House.
possibly the most comprehensive Is that of Mr.
Peyton. in which he includes in the list of per-
so"G who not to be permitted to marry not
only the feeble minded, epileptic, insane, or
diseased, but also the habitual drunkard and
the victim Of any Of the various forms of drug
habit. Ministers are forbidden to perform such
| ceremonies, and affidavit shall be made to the
clerk by the parties that they are free Of tho
impediments specified, before he shall issue a
license. We would suggest that the affidavit
, in such case be made on information and be-
lief by some person in position to know the
| arties and their general mental and physical
condition
| Regulation of marriage is so clearly within
the power of the State; 1t IS matter so
1 directly affecting the condition of society at
/ large that it is difficult to understand how,
| whereas every Is familiar with the regula-
tons requiring license. age of the parties, race
! degree of consanguinity and so forth, there
should nevertheless be hesitancy in accepting
| further regulations only going to make those
efready In force effective A marriage license
| Is certainly a proper safeguard which the
state should throw about those in its borders
desiring to become citizens in the fullest and
most significant sense; but marriage license
is of very little practical good when almost any
one may obtain 1t for the trlfing cost of the
fee Some such measure. even stronger
| as that Of Mr. PeytoH would go far toward
making the marriage license mean something
except an idle form and trivial perquisite Of
office.