384 EVOLUTION AND GENETICS 



willing to give careful consideration to such a movement should 

 do so; they should also learn to distinguish between the careful 

 decisions of well-informed scientists and the scientific quackery 

 which is all too common in matters concerning the human race. 

 No thoughtful eugenists would consider the wholesale regulation 

 of marriages beyond protection against unfortunate consequences, 

 yet the idea has gained a hold on the popular mind through 

 various agencies that this is proposed by eugenics. Our knowledge 

 of man is insufficient to accomplish the production of ideal types 

 even if such a course were desirable. Many of the popular ideas 

 of eugenics are myths which have had unjust and wholly unwar- 

 ranted consequences. 



The whole program of eugenics at present may be summed up 

 as watchful waiting. Proposals of eugenic organizations recom- 

 mend principally extensive research in all fields related to human 

 heritage, education, both formal and popular, in heredity and 

 eugenics, and a policy of delay in attempts to secure legislation 

 in this field. Such a program is no more than the wise use of our 

 intelligence in relation to ourselves. 



Summary. Eugenics recognizes the importance of the heritage 

 in man and proposes as an ideal goal the securing of an adequate 

 heritage for every individual. The movement is young but it is 

 even now possible to make positive proposals for the elimination 

 of obviously unfit strains, such as mental defectives. The differ- 

 ential birth rate shows the need of eugenic measures in all classes 

 of society, since the lowest classes are the most prolific and edu- 

 cated classes do not maintain themselves. In this field, however, 

 nothing but sound education is at present possible. The program 

 of eugenics therefore urges continued investigation, extensive 

 education, and only such legislation as progress warrants. 



REFERENCES 



Holmes, S. J., The Trend of the Race, 1921. 



Studies in Evolution and Eugenics, 1923. 



A BibliographT/ of Eugenics, 1925. 



GuYER, M. F., Being Well-Born, 1927. 



