The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-19

the New Scienc

paratively few, and no child will be born who
Is not only sound In body and mind, but also
above the average as to natural ability and
moral force" And he concludes: 1.-THE most
important matter in society. the inherent quail.
ity or the members of which It is composed.
should. be regulated by trained specialists"
or course. our modern eugenists will dis.
claim any wish to adopt such measures as
are here limited at. which are In every way dan.
gerous and detestable. But protest strenu.
ously against any direct interference with the
freedom OF marriage. which, as shall show. Is
not only totally unnecessary but would be
much greater source Of danger to morals and
to the wel1-being OF humanity than the mere
temporary evils 1t seeks to cure trust that
all my readers will oppose any legislation on
this subject by chance body OF elected per.
sons who are totally unified to deal with far
less complex problems than this one, and as
to which they sure to bungle disastrously.
1t is IN the highest degree presumptuous and
irrational to attempt to deal by compulsory
enactments with the most vital and most
sacred OF all human relations. regardless of
the fact that our present phase OF social de-
veopment Is not only extremely imperfect
but, as have already shown vicious and rot
ten at tho core. How can 1t be possible to
determine by legislation those relations Of the
sexes which shall be best alike for individuals
and for the race, in society in which large
proportion OF our women are forced to work
long hours daily for the barest subsistence,
with an almost total absence of the rational
pleasures OF life, for the want Of which thou
sands driven into wholly uncongenial mar
riages in order to secure some amount OF per-
sonal independence or physical well-being?
Let anyone consider. on the one hand the
fIvss Of the wealthy as portrayed In the society
newspapers OF the day. with their endless
round Of pleasure and luxury, their almost In
conceivable wastefulness and extravaganza In.
dicated by the cost of female dress and the
tact OF $1,000 or $4,000 or more being ex.
pended on the flowers for single entertain.
ment. On the other hand, let him contem-
plate the awful lives of millions of workers, 80
miserably paid and with such uncertainty OF
work that many thousands Of the women and
young girls are driven on the streets as the
only means Of breaking the monotony of their
unceasing labor Of life at whatever cost; and
then ask himself II the Legislature which can.
not remedy this state of things, should venture
to NEEDLE with the great problems Of marriage
and the sanctities of family life.
Is 1t not hideous mockery that the suces.
sive Governments. which for forty years have
seen the people they profess to govern SO
driven to despair by the vile conditions Of their
existence that In an ever larger and larger
proportion they seek death by suicide as their
only means Of escape-that Governments.
which have done nothing to put end to this
continuous horror OF starvation and suicide.
should be thought capable Of remedying some
OF It's more terrible results, while leaving its
causes absolutely untouched?
We see continuous advance Of mans power
to utilize the forces of nature. to extent
which surpasses everything he had been able
to do during all the preceding centuries OF his
;. recorded fiatory. go .,s ~ 4}aSsgs