Evening star., 1921-10-09
NAJ DARWIN, ENGLISH SCIENTIST, SAYS =
FUTURE OF WORLD RESTS WITH AMERICA

! ents. A child suffering from the de-
formity called brachydactyiy was thus
marked out before its birth. Other
wise It could not be thus afterward.
Such problems are simple. If we could
stamp out brachydactylous (or excess
sively short -fingered) parents there
would be no brachydactylous children.
But the general problem really is
not 80 simple. We find children ap-
parently normal springing from unions
OF one normal and one abnormal per-
son and then transmitting not normal
ity, but abnormality. to its own chill
dren.
1.-The problem, therefore, is determine
ton of whether the defects in the pres
ent and all future generations consti-
tute an injury to the race Of sufficient
gravity to justify In this generation
only those four words should be en-
phasized) the actual prevention Of par
enthood on the part Of the subnormal
or the self-sacriflce needed for its VOL
untary abandonment.
'"The world could be rid Of all such
ailments more or less quickly. 1t is
only question of whether or not 1t
is worth the cost. But realized de-
termination to benefit the world in any
one detail probably would benefit it in
no other. In the United States as
elsewhere there is the large problem
Of the feeble-minded. In America are
from 100000 TO 100000 such unfortu-
cases were to be included in the count.
Most Of these. becoming parents. will
pass their ailment on to many Of their
children; many Of their offspring.
though seeming normal. will transmit
feeble -mindedness to their descendants.
Obviously. If the interests of posterity
are to be served no feeble minded per-
son should be allowed to become a
parent.
''The remedy? Segregation is un-
doubtedly the kindest course to adopt
in most cases. 1t would be costly, but
as an economy. But various difficulties
present themselves, principal among
them the augmented affection which
many parents feel for such unfortunate
children7-an affection which will make
them fight against the thought Of s.-
reeation.
.'Such conflicting considerations have
led us to consider what part steriliza-
,, ton might be led to play in the
eugenic program. 1t is not for me to-
United States. where we all know some
intelligent effort has been made.
| Such practical experiments may re-
veal the one thing which can be done.
We must know the best methods and
all the objections to the practice.
IF all those eminent in stature in
the United States were selected an
nually for marriage 1t would be found
that there appeared each year, out
of the 100,000.000 population of this
country. total of about 500. Mate
them, in some manner, and allow
above the average. Thus operating
it would take this process $4,000 years
| to raise the average stature OF the
country by an inch.
For these reasons I favor the more
| democratic idea of mass improvement
| 4 fhrnr orb he afv,o 80
ideas among all the people.
! Il have no wish to discourage any
efforts which it may be found possible
| to make with selected groups. but
what I have just said will indicate
! that I believe our main endeavor
| the people with regard to their in
| born qualities"
What, then. is to be done?"
Young men of today endowed with
the higher qualities may be expected
to earn good livelihoods: the reverse
may be expected of those i'll endowed.
Members of small families will re-
ceive better educational advantages
than members of large families and
therefore more easily will win to the
front.
These two selective processes will
increase as time passes and in con-
| sequence in future we may expect
l IL
full combination of qualities, viz. SUI
perior Unborn qualities combined with
| natural tendencies toward the pro-
duction of small families these lat
ter including natural infertility and
an innate desire to consider the well
fare of children yet unborn.
The problem is too complex for
! brief discussion. but I can find no
facts in refutatien of the thought that
Unborn qualities of civilized COM
munities now are deteriorating with
! an all-around downward movement
apparently ahead.
$50 will not the naturally we'll en-
dowed. in comparison with the natu-
rally i'll endowed. constantly take a
duction of ensuing generations with
racial deterioration as an inevitable
consequence?
History SHOWS that ancient cfvili-
cations. achieving to climaxes, have
begun to sink and have continued till
they vanished
Having said this cannot refrain
from adding that 1t 3 ems to me the
United States. in this regard as in so
many others. has a mighty future to
look forward to, upon which the
salvation of the whole world may. to
considerable extent, depend. There
fore. in my opinion. 1t is douhly de-
sirable that its citizens shall con-
slider whether it's best or it's worst
stocks are now multiplying most
rapidly. If it be it's worst and not
its best which are multiplying so
rapidly. and If no steps are taken to
remedy the evil. then this country
may miss an opportunity Of writing
on the pages of the futures history
some very glorious passages"
| Copyright 1a2l)