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SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. LIV. No. 1397 



attained. The probability of liarm resulting 

 from the mere discussion of any reform would 

 usually be very small, even if that reform 

 would be very harmful if adopted. On the 

 other hand, the possibility of benefits arising 

 from the discussion of reform is almost equally 

 obvious whether the proposed legislation would 

 in fact be beneficial or harmful. To take a 

 single example, there are strong differences of 

 opinion as regards sterilization; but all may 

 hold that by open discussion true conclusions 

 would most likely be reached. The advocates 

 of sterilization of course wish to have this sub- 

 ject brought to the notice of the public ; whilst 

 its opponents must admit that they will be 

 more likely to promote than to retard its intro- 

 duction by, as it were, burying their heads in 

 the sand like the ostrich and by refusing to 

 favor the creation of opportunities for openly 

 stating their objections to it. It is indeed 

 nearly true to say that every subject may be 

 openly discussed with advantage provided the 

 occasion he properly chosen; and it is in this 

 spirit that eugenical societies should, in my 

 opinion, conduct their proceedings. 



In all human afEairs we are constantly being 

 compelled to take opposing considerations into 

 account and to adopt compromises, and I think 

 that I ought not to be accused of inconsistency 

 if I now turn round and show why eugenical 

 societies ought not to be too timid in regard to 

 legislation. As to your middle-aged Anglo- 

 Saxon, and I am only speaking for my own 

 country, there is hardly anything which he dis- 

 likes so much as having to change his opinions ; 

 and from this weakness men of science are by 

 no means exempt! Here is a barrier which 

 will stop any half hearted advance on the part 

 of eugenic reformers! To the students of 

 natural sciences, at all events, we can suggest 

 that Nature's plan seems to have been to stamp 

 out of existence all organisms which fail to fill 

 the places she assigns to them, and this with- 

 out regard to the sufferings thus caused or to 

 the superiority in many respects of large num- 

 bers of the individuals thus eliminated. By 

 adopting rational methods in human affairs, 

 much can be done and much ought to be done 

 to prevent human beings from being enforced 



to sufferings similar to those which animals in 

 the wild have to endure because of that strug- 

 gle for existence to which they must submit; 

 but nevertheless we should not be quite blind 

 to the example set us by Nature in her 

 readiness to sacrifice the individual for the 

 sake of the race. Unfortunately it will be our 

 politicians who will mainly settle how far the 

 teachings of science shall be made to affect leg- 

 islation; and this they will be apt to do with 

 little reference to the opinions of experts and 

 largely in the hope of catching votes. But the 

 votes of future generations can not now be 

 caught, and their interests will, therefore, be 

 likely to receive but scant attention in all 

 democratic countries. Governments which de- 

 pend on the suffrages of the people are of 

 necessity always somewhat timid in regard to 

 unpopular reforms; and until eugenics be- 

 comes popular — when will that be, I wonder ! — 

 there is not the slightest chance of eugenic 

 reform moving forward with too rapid strides. 

 Eugenists must lead the advance in racial 

 questions, and our societies must remember 

 that nothing is more fatal to leadership than 

 a show of timidity. We should discuss long 

 and freely, and when we do advance, advance 

 boldly. 



Legislative reforms can seldom be effec- 

 tively promoted or steadfastly maintained un- 

 less they are sanctioned by the general opinion 

 of the citizens concerned; and, on somewhat 

 similar grounds, eugenical societies would be 

 wise to avoid taking corporate action in re- 

 gard to legislation unless the proposal in ques- 

 tion has the nearly unanimous approval of 

 their members. The neglect of such warnings 

 has led to the disappearance of governments 

 and to the disruption of societies ! Wlien 

 legislation does not involve compulsory inter- 

 ference with the liberty of the individual, 

 there is comparatively little danger of in- 

 ternal friction being caused by its advocacy; 

 for unanimity in such circumstances is both 

 more probable and less necessary than when 

 compulsion is involved. As examples of 

 legislation of general application producing 

 beneficial racial effects, certain reforms in re- 

 gard to taxation might be mentioned. My 



