Biological Iconoclasm, 

 Mendelian Inheritance and Human Society 



A PLEA FOR THE OPERATION OF A MORE 

 VIRILE SENTIMENT IN HUMAN AFFAIRS. 



An Address delivered to the Mendel Society and to the 

 Eugenics Education Society, in June, 1908. 



By GEORGE PERCIVAL MUDGE. 



No biologist who has Hved in our community and 

 watches its afiairs, can feel that all is .right in the 

 modern sentiment that is guiding it. If he fearlessly 

 faces the facts, and puts aside all prejudice arising 

 out of mistaken ideas, he cannot fail to see that a con- 

 tinuation and extension of this sentiment will lead 

 the nation— which is last upon the scroll of greatness 

 — to its destruction. 



Let us first consider the nature of the modern 

 sentiment of which I speak. It is characterised by 

 a wide range of various phases, but all of them 

 may be expressed in one general formula, i.e., " Pre- 

 serve and procreate the unfit citizens, and hamper 

 and discourage the fit." Let me illustrate the different 

 ways in which this formula has been applied, by 

 giving one or two examples taken from the statements 

 and the conduct of the people who are endeavouring 

 to apply it. AATien Canon Barnett says that the 

 " weak of human society are so because of the short- 

 comings of the strong " ; when Mr. Phihp Snowden 



