CHAPTER XIII 

 THE FUTURE 



Two parties are conspicuous in the constant controversy 

 which rages round the question of the desirability of 

 birth control. There is the party the members of which 

 seem to be anxious for population at any price, and close 

 their eyes to the fact that a full realisation of the potential 

 fertility of the race would lead to disastrous over-population 

 in a few generations, besides the blighting effect of large 

 families upon the fortunes of the poor. There is the 

 opposite party, the members of which see these things 

 vividly, but are blind to the equally obvious fact that if 

 the decb'ne in the birthrate continues unchecked, then 

 in a few years' time births will be insufficient to balance 

 the deaths, and a decline must occur in the populations 

 affected similar to that which took place in Ancient Rome 

 and Greece. To France the problem of the birthrate 

 has already become a matter of life and death. But 

 for the influx of fertile Italians and others it is probable 

 that her population would be already on the decline. 

 A replacement of its population by foreign immigrants 

 is a prospect which no virile and patriotic nation can 

 view with equanimity. 



What we need is an intelligently regulated birthrate. 

 We need to obtain the largest possible proportion of 

 children from the ablest sections of the people, and the 

 smallest possible proportion from the unfit. We need 

 such a rate of reproduction as shall provide for the upkeep 



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