THE ARBITER OF ETHICS 253 



still have the children of the less degenerate, who 

 may inherit the weakness of the parent in an intensified 

 form. No good arguments can be given against the 

 more humane method of the separation of sexes in 

 institutions. This method requires merely a reform 

 in such institutions as already exist in order that their 

 inmates may be provided with as free and useful life as 

 is possible. The argument is frequently given that the 

 cost of this method is great. But a strong and vigorous 

 community may well blush at such a motive; certainly 

 the care of its unfortunates is a solemn duty and it 

 should be undertaken with as much solicitude as a man 

 would shield a weakling child. And as for the plea 

 that, after this operation, the individual loses only the 

 power and not the desire to procreate, it strikes one as 

 simply disgusting. Is it not giving a license to the 

 degenerate and to the man of loose morals to be as foul 

 as he pleases if only his sins end with himself? It 

 would be far more manly, if the plan of isolation can- 

 not succeed, to put degenerate children and adults to 

 death and at least preserve some self-respect for the 

 dignity of human life. 



Another plan proposed to promote eugenics is to 

 rely on the legislator and the clergy to prohibit mar- 

 riage, unless the contracting parties show certificates 

 of fitness from a physician. Without the least knowl- 

 edge of what effect such a regulation would have, the 

 state of Wisconsin has recently passed a law of this 



