CiTAP. XXI. AND CONCLUDING REMARKS. 403 



and virtues. On the other hand he is strongly attracted 

 by mere wealth or rank. Yet he might by selection 

 do something not only for the bodily constitution and 

 frame of his offspring, but for their intellectual and 

 moral qualities. Both sexes ought to refrain from 

 marriage if in any marked degree inferior in body or 

 mind; but such hopes are Utopian and will never be 

 even partially realised until the laws of inheritance are 

 thoroughly known. All do good service who aid towards 

 this end. When the principles of breeding and of inhe- 

 ritance are better understood, we shall not hear ignorant 

 members of our legislature rejecting with scorn a plan 

 for ascertaining by an easy method whether or not con- 

 sanguineous marriages are injurious to man. 



The advancement of the welfare of mankind is a most 

 intricate problem : all ought to refrain from marriage 

 who cannot avoid abject poverty for their children ; for 

 poverty is not only a great evil, but tends to its own 

 increase by leading to recklessness in marriage. On the 

 other hand, as Mr. Galton has remarked, if the prudent 

 avoid marriage, whilst the reckless marry, the inferior 

 members will tend to supplant the better members of 

 society. Man, like every other animal, has no doubt ad- 

 vanced to his present high condition through a struggle 

 for existence consequent on his rapid multiplication ; 

 and if he is to advance still higher he must remain 

 subject to a severe struggle. Otherwise he would soon 

 sink into indolence, and the more highly-gifted men 

 would not be more successful in the" battle of life than 

 the less gifted. Hence our natural rate of increase, 

 though leading to many and obvious evils, must not 

 be greatly diminished by any means. There should be 

 open competition for all men ; and the most able should 

 not be prevented by laws or customs from succeeding 

 best and rearing the largest number of offspring. Im- 



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