174 THE TREND OF THE RACE 



well-known facts. A sudden accession of wealth may have one 

 effect, but its longer possession, with all the customs and tradi- 

 tions associated with its enjoyment, may have a quite different 

 result. If wealth affords the means of supporting more children 

 it calls into operation a number of secondary factors which tempt 

 its possessors to enjoy life unencumbered by a numerous progeny. 

 It is among the well-to-do who are best able to support and edu- 

 cate their children that the gospel of birth control has secured its 

 largest following. Many comfort themselves with reflections 

 about "fewer and better children," and that "Quality is better 

 than quantity," without considering that without a certain 

 minimum number of children there would soon be neither quan- 

 tity nor quality. It is doubtful if one person in ten who employs 

 these glib justifications of family restriction has ever seriously 

 reflected on the racial consequences which this restriction may 

 entail. The possession of means of interfering with the normal 

 course of perpetuating life confers a grave responsibility for its 

 wise employment. And it is not surprising that the power should 

 be generally abused. Limiting the family is a perfectly justifiable 

 procedure for a large part of humanity, but it is unfortunate that 

 it is practiced most among those whose excuse for so doing is 

 least. 



Many people who practice family limitation are actuated by 

 the desire to provide better for a few children instead of bringing 

 into the world a large family which cannot be adequately sup- 

 ported. It would, however, be a serious racial misfortune if the 

 great mass of reasonably thrifty and intelligent people should, for 

 such a reason, reduce the size of their families below what is 

 necessary to perpetuate their stock. To put family interest above 

 racial welfare is as bad in its effect as to sacrifice the race to the 

 selfish enjoyment of the individual. With most people considera- 

 tions of the interests of the race are not kept habitually in mind, if 

 they are ever present at all. What is one child more or less in a 

 populous country as compared with the sacrifices needed to feed 

 an extra mouth? This is the concrete question which occurs 

 almost inevitably to every married couple in moderate circum- 



