EUGENICS 381 



is limited only by ability, they have risen to prominent places 

 in all walks of life. 



Our leaders have increased in number with the increase of 

 population. Since they have not been maintaining themselves, 

 to what extent has immigration been responsible for the renewal 

 of these classes? The number of foreign names added to the 

 personnel of American institutions of learning since the world 

 war suggests that it may even now be an important source of 

 desirable citizens. 



Immigration since the war has, however, shown an undesirable 

 trend toward peoples of proved inferiority. The precautions 

 taken in the admission of aliens are such as to prevent the entry 

 of undesirable individuals, Init we must expect a distinct reduction 

 in the valuable types that have previously entered this country 

 and a modification of the total effects. 



It would be pessimistic to suggest that this change must have an 

 early effect on the general level of intelligence, or that it might 

 result in the extinction of those classes which are failing to repro- 

 duce themselves. It is possible that enough native-born citizens 

 rise above the standing of their parents because of increased 

 opportunity to offset that phase of the differential birth rate. 

 We must recognize in immigration, however, an important factor 

 which has previously exerted a valuable influence and now bids 

 fair to change. Moreover it is impossible to point out with cer- 

 tainty anything which is taking its place. 



What Shall Be Done? In meeting these problems the eugenist 

 is confronted by the difficulty of securing a sympathetic audience. 

 Prosperity tends to blind a people to their future problems, and 

 when these problems are beyond the pale of their education, they 

 are doubly oblivious. Relief measures, especially when they are 

 of serious consequence to the individual, are not popular. It is 

 all too easy to leave action to the other fellow. 



Reduction of Defectives. In spite of this difficulty the eugen- 

 ics movement has made a steady advance and offers several 

 proposals which are well grounded and worthy of serious con- 

 sideration. Among them the sterilization of mental defectives 

 has a prominent place. The year 1927 has witnessed a reaction 

 to this proposal which urges that not all mental defects are known 

 to be heritable and that even such a taint does not prevent the 

 production of valuable citizens by the defective hne. Such a 



