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New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5944, 4 December 1880, Page 4

The doctrine of hereditary transmission has of late years received considerable attention' from scientific-men—Herbert Spencer, G. W. Lewes, Alexander Bain, H. C. Bastian, and other writers of note in psychology and physiology have given the results of their observations and experiments in this science to the world. From these writers it would appear to be now generally admitted that organisms are inherited, and as organism has, it is also admitted, a great influence upon our tendencies, passions, ideas, and aptitudes, it follows as a matter of course that they also are inherited. The theory is by no means new. The common experience of mankind made the discovery a long time ;l go —it could not indeed have escaped ordinary observation for any length of time— and science is now endeavourin. to arrange and explain recorded facts and observations. It is clear many diseases are inherited, and probably vice in all its varied forms. The causes of success and failure in life arc even said to be inherited. The Lancet in a recent number suggests : —

That more account to be taken than is taken of the condition of health in estimating the causes of success or failure in life. The habit of failing is fanned in some families, and seems to bo transmitted by inheritance. The same is the c.ise with constitutional peculiarities, ami often with certain morbid conditions. It would be an interesting: and profitable study tf. examine how far what is called ill-luck or bail fortune is induced by such peculiarities Accep inc this view, "so far from its being strange that failure or sucivss should run in families." it would be inexplicable, contrary to every natural law and precedent, if it (lid not do so. The force of character, strength of will, clearness of mental vision, and qualities of riifcmr, patieuce. and perseverance, which constitute the secrets "f surrvss in life, are the several properties of the physical organism, couinnundecl, as it is, of hotly and iniud. A new cure ir. suggested, sity, which would be rirst personal, then hereditary, in its aims, aspects, and bearing. The subject it is added is worthy the attention of medical men and social philosophers.

If we are at liberty to accept these scienliiie views us true, a very grave question arises as to our duty in respect to organisms defective anil depraved. The world is full of gaols, reformatories, benevolent and charitable institutions of every kind ; every cll'ort is made to educate, to improve, ami raise the people in the social .scale : the industrious few toil to support and keep within bounds the many riniinally reckless and indifferent ; and yet we find no diminution of the class that claims our sympathies and enlists our aid. A vast amount of crime is daily brought to light and punished, lmt there is also much that is undetected and unpunished. Public accounts in tlie I'ress, and the secret records of the police show too plainly Umt even the crime of murder is not unfro<|Ucntly committed, and the perpetrators undiscovered. And if this is true with the highest crime against social life and order, wliat may we expect to find when considering those of lesser magnitude. Not only does crime appear to be steadily on the increase but sympathy with crime is also increasing. This comes before us at tlie present time with great fi.ree in the movement made in favour of Xed Kelly. The men actively engaged in attempting to set aside the just sentence of the law muy, from their position, be supposed to speak the sentiments of a large class. Can anything more fully express the low state of public morality than to tiud a considerable portion of tlie community striving to cast loose again upon society a man whose life was stained with many deeds of violence? Sir Kedmond Barry, the Judge who tried Kelly, called attention to the fact that no persons were found tempted either by the reward, or love of country, or love of order, to give him up, and that the execution of other notorious bushrangers had not stamped out or lessened the crime. And so impressed was the .1 uilge with a general sympathy in tlie prisoner's favour that he added significantly, "When such examples are so often repeated sorielii must lie. re.oiyanUnl, or it must soon be seriously affected." Mr. Mackechnie in his paper on " Heredity " read before the Auckland Institute on Monday week last, and tlie lirst part of which we print in another column, whilst regarding crime from this point of view, suggested the necessity of obtaining reliable data respecting the antecedents of our criminals, and the life-history of their parents and kindred. Particulars of the career of all persons connected with criminals might easily be obtained, and tables might be framed after the manner of Mr. Galton in dealing with persons emiucut for ability. If the same result followed—if the children of criminals become criminals themselves, notwithstanding education, moral training, and better associations — if a constitutional predisposition to crime is discovered in the class as a settled law with little variation—then it might be found necessary to adopt some means to stay (if possible) the steady increase of such a class. We resolutely shut our eyes to these things, and take no step to lessens the evil arouuiT us and in our midst. Some we cover with a thin varnish, and say they do not exist; to others, in selfdefence, we meet out punishment by way of a deterrent, but with no practical effect. All our efforts to raise and reform are equally ineffectual, and though science, morality, and the well-being of our species alike imperatively demand a remedy, society would appear to be powerless. The question is raised, and will be raised with increasing force every year,—Can'nothing be done to stay tho increase and spread of our criminal population ? It has become the question of the day, and we await the solution with more than ordinary interest and concern.