Eugenics as a Creed and the Last Decade of Galton's Life 265 



always be coming in, old families dropping out, as the one reached, or the 

 other fell short of the required percentage. Ultimately the book would be 

 able to base itself upon its own inclusions. It could only be successful, if 

 prepared by trained genealogists, eugenists and statisticians, working on 

 pre-arranged rules. It would need an energetic and enterprising publisher, 

 but it might in the end become as valuable a property as a peerage, the 

 Medical Directory, or Who's Who. Such would be the final development of 

 Galton's "Golden Book of Thriving Families," and to be recorded in it would 

 be a higher patent of nobility than could be marked by any other directory 

 or roll in the land. 



" The Chinese, whose customs have often sound sense, make their honours retrospective. We 

 might learn from them to show that respect to the parents of noteworthy children which the 

 contributors of such valuable assets to the national wealth richly deserve." (p. 49.) 



Achievements of their offspring would bring parents into the " Book of 

 Noble Families." 



(4) Study the influences which affect marriage. Galton discarded entirely 

 the notion that the passion of love is so overpowering that it is folly to 

 determine its course. Social influences and customs have immense power in 

 the long run. If marriages which were unsuitable from the eugenic standpoint 

 were socially banned, as marriages between near-kin have often been, such 

 marriages would very seldom be made. From the origin of human marriage, 

 and even before, restrictions and prohibitions have existed concerning the 

 mating of human beings. Let us study how these customs have originated 

 and what are their sanctions. 



(5) Urge persistently the national importance of Eugenics. According 

 to Galton there are three stages to be passed through : First, it must be made 

 familiar as a branch of academic study. Secondly, it must be recognised that 

 the subject demands serious consideration as an art. And Thirdly, it must 

 be introduced into the national conscience, like a new religion. 



Then follow what, in the biographer's judgment, are the most impressive 

 sentences Galton ever wrote on the subject of Eugenics : 



" It has indeed strong claims to become an orthodox religious tenet of the future, for Eugenics 

 co-operates with the workings of nature by securing that humanity shall be represented by the 

 fittest races. What Nature does blindly, slowly and ruthlessly, man may do providently, 

 quickly and kindly. As it lies within his power, so it becomes his duty to work in that direction, 

 just as it is his duty to succour neighbours who suffer misfortune. The improvement of our 

 stock seems to me one of the highest objects that we can reasonably attempt. We are ignorant 

 of the ultimate destinies of humanity but feel perfectly sure it is as noble a work to raise its 

 level in the sense already explained as it would be disgraceful to abuse it. I see no impossibility 

 in Eugenics becoming a religious dogma among mankind, but its details must first be worked 

 out sedulously in the study. Over-zeal leading to hasty action would do harm, by holding out 

 expectations of a near golden age, which would certainly be falsified and cause the science to be 

 discredited. The first and main point is to secure the general intellectual acceptance of Eugenics 

 as a hopeful and most important study. Then let its principles work into the heart of the nation, 

 which will gradually give practical effect to them in ways that we may not wholly foresee." (p. 50.) 



Galton stressed here as he always did the essential need to have a science 

 of Eugenics before we make propaganda for its principles — the study is to 

 come before the market-place. 



pgiii 34 



