Genetics and Ethics 323 



spread, and then came sterility and extinction or mixture with 

 inferior stock and degeneracy. And then the barbarian, the im- 

 migrant, the natural man, unspoiled by too much freedom and 

 true to his instincts, came in to take the place of the more gifted 

 race. Truly "there is a power not ourselves that makes for 

 righteousness." 



In these days when we talk of our race and our civilization as 

 if they were necessarily supreme and immortal it is well to re- 

 member that there have been other races and other civilizations 

 that regarded themselves in the same way. 



"Assyria, Greece, Rome, Carthage, where are they?" 



And what assurance have we that our race and our civilization 

 will not run a similar course and come to a similar end ? May we 

 not surely predict that if we continue to put individual freedom 

 and luxury and selfishness above social obligations our race and 

 civilization will also see the writing on the wall, "Thou art weighed 

 in the balances and art found wanting?" In these days when in- 

 dividuals are demanding more and more freedom it is well to 

 remember that "the best use that man has made of his freedom 

 has been to place limitations upon it." Again and again, age after 

 age, men and families and nations have gone up to a climax of 

 greatness and then have declined, while other unknown men have 

 taken their places. Greatness has not for long perpetuated itself. 

 An epitome of human history is contained in the words, "He hath 

 put down the mighty from their seats and hath exalted them of 

 low degree." 



It may well be asked by those who are interested in breeding a 

 better race of men whether such a thing is possible, whether the 

 better race may not be lacking in vitality or fertility or morality 

 and thus be doomed to an early end. Although this has been the 

 fate of many gifted races of the past I do not think that it was a 

 necessary fate. The history of domesticated animals and of cul- 

 tivated plants, and especially the recent notable advances in 

 genetics, indicate what eugenics might do for the human race. In 



