El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-12-25
SHALL WE KILL THE SICK BABIES?
OR FEED THEM AND WAIT RESULTS?

OFTEN hear8 the fhppant remark smart and
~ stupid) that il would be better for the world Il the
sngs and the very poor were allowed starve pass
away from disease and physical defects and take the
sequences Of their inadequacy This sort Of talk IS
in regard to the most unfortunate IN cities and It
has been heard and read IN newspaper paragraphs
reference 70 the present conditions in Europe.
moments thought-s0ne folks don't think much as
minute IN their whole hTes-suggess that those phys
cy below par always the that the world
best spare And those that survive extreme deprivation by
reason Of some extraordinary physical endowment are not
always the most valuable lives.
History is fuH Of instances Of HeaIngs" having be-
come great men and great women powerful forces for good
the world creative forces and leaders in human advance
If such philosophy that alluded to in the first paragraph
we're to rule should do away with all hospitals and
medical science an for the sick al organized effort
for human welfare and relief and 60 back to the law Of
the jungle worse To be consistent should not only
neglect but XIII al children who have deficient physical
resistance and ali adults who fail TO measure up to certain
standard Of competency.
No other change that has about the evolution
IS more profound OF more far reaching in its
effect life than the gradual and steady growth Of what
we call the humane sentiment: the disposition to assist
those who are in any way defective temporarily deprived
Of part Of the normal force.
There Is an economic reason for this aside from the
humane idea For experience has abundanty proved that
il pays the world to give every human life chance to show
EnaI Il might DO condItlons were favorable to normal
development Of natural forces and inherited qualities.
It has been suggested that If $4,000 children
a Europe starving Of suitable and adequate
food It Is proof that that part Of the world is overpopu
lated that the human stock worth saving and II has
been argued that ought to let those children die and
50 there VIII be no surplus Of mouths to be fed.
As matter Of fact many Of the greatest figures
worlds history IN all time have directly out Of cir
cumstanoss apparently utterly hopeless OF have risen
through two three generations from the depths Of degrs
dation to leadership.
How are we going to know, when condemn q chIId
TO death because he has ricketts,, intestinal trouble
eyes weak lungs club feet-how going to know
what sort Of a soul that child has got2
The EXTREMIST censoTs Of mankind not always SO
successful in their provocative enterprises
sate their fitness to sentence fellow humans death as
failures OF detectives.
It is Of the mysteries Of this world why It Is that
caste does not always produce great and great women
t would seem as there ought to be something IN careful
breeding and careful rearing yet are continually coming
across instances Of degeneracy among those enjoying the
greatest economic advantages while We are as often sur
pssd to find world figures arising from the Sums Of cities
and from the peasantry.
And It Is often true that great Intellectual and spiritual
powers accompany weak, seky def0rmed, or defective
bodies IS often tine that gross stupidity inefcieney
and immortality accompany perfect physical Characteristic
The safest way Is to "save the babies" and see what
happens.
Have you sent in your check yet for EurOpss s5ooooo7
England may think she's lot closer to TipPerary but
stag nation would be stagnatioa