Alfred Russel Wallace 



industrial city. And I shall gladly turn again to the sub- 

 ject in these pages, new to me, where you come to close 

 quarters with the problem. 



But my time and my mind are at present neither of 

 them free for the effective consideration of this mighty 

 case. Nor can I promise myself the requisite leisure for 

 at least several months to come. What I can do is to set 

 your arguments a- simmering in my brain, and perhaps 

 when the time of liberation arrives I may be in a state 

 to make something of it. I don't suppose that I shall be 

 a convert, but I always remember J. S. Mill's observa- 

 tion, after recapitulating the evils to be apprehended 

 from Socialism, that he would face them in spite of all, if 

 the only alternative to Socialism were our present state. — 

 With sincere thanks and regard, believe me yours faith - 



^ully> John Morley. 



To Mr. C. G. Stuart-Mbntbith 



Parkatone, Dorset. June 5, 1901. 



Dear Sir, — I have no time to discuss your letter^ at any 

 length. You seem to assume that we can say definitely who 

 are the ** fit " and who the '* unfit." 



I deny this, except in the most extreme cases. 



I believe that, even now, the race is mostly recruited by 

 the more fit — that is the upper working classes and the lower 

 middle classes. 



Both the very rich and the very poor are probably — as 

 classes — below these. The former increase less rapidly 

 through immorality and late marriage; the latter through 

 excessive infant mortality. If that is the case, no legisla- 

 tive interference is needed, and would probably do harm. 



I see nothing in your letter which is really opposed to 

 my contention — that under rational social conditions the 



* Advocating Eugenics and the segregation of the unfit. 

 160 



