THE GREAT PROCREATION FETISH 193 



but to make him the progenitor of a happy pos- 

 terity. Their task was impossible. 



" Nature red in tooth and claw, 

 With ravine shrieked against his creed." 



But our time has seen the labours of Darwin. 

 We know now the great secret. Science has given 

 us knowledge and with it power. We have learnt 

 that if we labour for the individual alone, we shall 

 surely fail ; but that if we make our sacrifice greater, 

 if we labour for the race as well, we must succeed. 

 Let us then by all means seek to save the 

 individual drunkard ; with all our power let us 

 endeavour to make and keep him sober ; but let us 

 strive also to eradicate the type ; for as I have said, 

 if we do it not quickly and with mercy, Nature will 

 do it slowly and with infinite cruelty. 



