New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-19
Eugenics and
Birth Control

the current number of Margaret Sanger's
fugitive magazine, Birth Control Re-
view" which one may buy only surrepti-
tiously on the street corners. Mr.. Po-
renoe. who is editor Of "The Journal OK
Heredty," drawing a fine distinction be-
tween birth control as now practised by
the rich and birth control "as il should be
practised by the unfit" writes;
ITO be eugenic, a measure must favor the
reproductivity Of the happier and more en-
Gent parts of the population and discourage
the increase Of the less capable parts.
at is a matter Of common notoriety that
birth control as at present praetised does
Just the reverse. The superior parts OF the
population are limiting their families so
much that they are not even reproducing
their own numbers, while the increase OF IN
ferior families is checked only by the death
rate, because they do not practise effective
methods of birth control.
at is necessary to conclude, therefore, that
birth control as at present practised in the
United States is the reverse Of eugenic. IL
is tending to race deterioration.
"A spread of birth control TO the less capa-
bic part Of the population will be an impor-
tant advance for eugenics in cutting down the
racial contribution Of inferior stocks. But IL
is not likely that the gain will be as great
as Is Sometimes supposed. II seems probable
that those who will practise birth control
most effectively are the prudent, fsr-sighted,
conscientious parents, whose children the race
needs; while even possession Of knowledge
of contraceptive methods will not affect the
reckless and improvident, those who procre-
ate while drunk--those, in short. whose chill
dren the race would be better off without.
even though he firmly adheres to the prin-
ciple of intelligent and voluntary mother"
hood, the eugenist cannot think that the uni
versal practice of birth control will have no
drawbacks. 1t will be better condition than
that which at present exists, when the supe-
rior classes alone limit the size Of their fam
lilies effectively; but 1t will increase the task
of eugenics, since it will require vigorous
measures to augment the birth rate Of eu-
genically superior families
"Some people need fewer children, some
need more. 1t is not fair to expect the birth
control propagandists TO carry on simulta-
neous campaign on these two sides OF the
question, but they ought at least to recognize
the two sides and not throw unnecessary OBJ
stacles in the way of eugenics.
ut makes no difference whether one be-
lieves in universal knowledge Of birth con-
troll; it cannot now be stopped and must be
regarded as fact 70 be reckoned with. But
believe eugenists go much further than
this They will look with satisfaction on an
extension of birth control to the inefficient
part of the population, and many OF them are
taking an active part in the campaign"
Havelock Ellis, writing in "The Eu-
genics Review" believes:
THAT we possess in birth control an in
valuable instrument, not merely for immedi-
ate social betterment but for the elevation
of the race, is tactly admitted to-day by near
ly all thoughtful eugenists, though they often
refrain from emphasizing the fact"
And this able psychologist discusses
three directions in which society might
work toward rendering eugenic ideals
effective in social and racial life" Briefly
stated, these are as follows:
al. By increasing and promoting the
knowledge Of the laws Of heredity. Knowi-
edge must come before action, and our knowl-
edge Of the tendencies Of heredity in Its
70 frnr
quate. While the expert biological in
vestigator may be expected 70 take the
chief part in this extension OF knowledge,
II is by no means confined TO him. Every
physician meets with cases OF family heredity
which il would be desirable TO explore, so
far as may be possible. and IL is his duty TO
put them on record. Without going outside
ones own family, indeed, provided one can
trace backward for few generations, 1t is
possible to draw picture, even II only for
ones private edifcation, for example or for
warning; while those Of US who can follow
our ancestors backward for several centuries
may find in our hands study full alike OF
| fascination and instruction.
~. BY popularizing a knowledge OF the
methods OF birth control. A knowledge OF
the methods Of limiting offspring by the use
OF contraceptives, which in the eighteenth
century seems still TO have been confined TO
! the rakes Of the fashionable world and only
used for immoral purposes, began about q
century ago TO be associated with moral and
prudential motives. Since then IL has stead
| lily tended to spread in all civilized countries
} throughout the world.
"In the United States barrier
has been erected by the law. The result has
/ been that heroic pioneers, like Mrs. Margaret
! Sanger, in a generous passion Of humanita-
/ risn srdor, have flung defiance at the laws.
| The method OF reforming bad laws by break
ing them is not that which commends itself
to an instnctively lsw-ablding community,
even when the lsw-breaker is inspired by
| the nobest motives. But the fact that IL
should be necessary 20 break law in order