198 ROOT MATTERS IN SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. 



preserve a population in a healthy and happy state, and this 

 could not be practically effected without some such controlling 

 influences as M. The nobleness of Malthus' aims, and the 

 problems which he endeavoured to grapple with, are alto- 

 gether misconceived by Mr. George and other opponents. 

 Some (might I not add the popular view) even maliciously or 

 carelessly identify the Malthusian problem with the revolting 

 physical check of Condorcet and others ; and also of the view 

 which rests in considering vice and misery as necessary evils. 

 This proves that such people have not hooestly studied the 

 views of this much-wronged philanthropist. This is indis- 

 putably proved by the following quotations from his writings, 

 pp. 478,479: "Vice and misery, and these alone, are the 

 evils which it has been my great object to contend against. I 

 have expressly proposed moral restraint (M) as their rational 

 and proper remedy ; and whether the remedy be good or bad, 

 adequate or inadequate, the proposal itself and the stress 

 which I have laid upon it, is an incontrovertible proof that I 

 never can have considered vice and misery as themselves 

 remedies." In connection with these unfair charges nrged by 

 a Mr. Graham, he, in a dignified rejoinder, maintains, " It is 

 therefore quite inconceivable that any writer with the slightest 

 pretension to respectability should venture to bring forward 

 such imputations, and it must be allowed to show either such 

 a degree of ignorance, or such a total want of candour, as 

 utterly to disqualify him for the discussion of such subjects." 

 And with respect to charges identifying his view with the 

 restraints prescribed by Condorcet, he distinctly affirms, " I 

 have never adverted to the check suggested by Condorcet 

 without the most marked disapprobation. Indeed, I should 

 always particularly reprobate any artificial and unnatural 

 modes of cheeking population on account of their immorality 

 and their tendency to remove a necessary stimulus to 

 industry . . . the restraints which I have I'ecommended 

 are quite of a different chai'acter. They are not only pointed 

 out by reason and sanctioned by religion, but tend in the most 

 marked manner to stimiilate industry. It is not easy to 

 conceive a more powerful encouragement to exertion and good 

 conduct than the looking forward to marriage as a state 

 peculiarly desirable, but only to be enjoyed in comfort by the 

 acquisition of habits of industry, economy, and prudence, and 

 it is in this light I have always wished to place it." How 

 clearly and nobly Malthus explains his check of moral 

 restraint is a matter which ought to leave no doubt of the 

 purity and nobleness of his views, whatever doubts may 

 remain as regards the efiicacy of the moral check in itself. 

 The possibility of the check, too, pre-supposes the general 

 possession of moral strength sufficiently inadequate, not 

 merely during large intervals of time, but at all times ; for 



