THE COMING RACE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14919, 23 August 1910, Page 4

THE COMING RACE.

HEREDITY AND SELECTION. LONDON EUGENICS SOCIETY. NEW ZEALAND BRANCH FORMED. About 50 ladies and gentlemen prominent in Miinntilio and philanthropic circles attended a meeting held at the Town Hail last night for the purpose of inaugurating in Dunedin a New Zealand lSra.nch of tho London Eugenics Education Society. Mr J. 11. Walker (chairman of tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Board) presided.

The Chairman said that ho presided at tliis meeting with very much pleasure, more especially because he recognised the work which had been put into the movement by their secretary, Miss -Macgcorge.—(Applause.) He felt sure that after hearing the ladies and gentlemen who were to sjx k they would feel convinced that the object for which they had met was worthy of being promoted by the citizens of Dunedin. One thing that appealed to him was the necessity for -enthusiasm, and that- tho objects of the society made it necessary to employ great tact and consummate delicacy. Mr A. H. Grinling then proceeded to outline tile aims and objects of the society, as follows: — BLINDFOLD FREEDOM. Seeing that the term " eugenics " was unfamiliar and probably new to the majority of people, he might, perhaps, be pardoned for commencing with a definition. Eugenics, from tho Greek eugenes, signifying good in stock or well bred, was a word coined and first used by Sir Francis Galton in his "Inquiries into Human Faculty." Galton was t.huo entitled to bo dubbed the father of tho science, as he certainly was the pioneer ot the movement. Rather .wore than 40 yea is ago—to bo precise, in 1855,—while engaged with his great work on "Ilerecii'tary Genius," Galton publicly mooted the question of race improvement, but, deeming popular opinion not ripe for such a. discussion, he did not further pursue the topic. In 1834, stimulated by the fact that Professor Karl Pearson had established a biometric laboratory in tho University College, London, Sir Francis Galton, with the approval of the University authorities, liberally endowed a eugenics laboratory, now conducted under Professor Pearson's supervision. With a view of popularising the results of the inquiries undertaken at both laboratories, a Eugenics Education Society wtis started in London some t-hreo years back, with Sir Francis Galton as lion, president. Govorned by an influential council and supported by loading men and women in medical and nc'enfcific cities, besides prominent publicists and philanthropists, the society speedily gained ,the public ear. Last year its operations wore furthor stimulated in the publication of a quarterly Eugenics Review, and it was interesting to be informed, on the authority of the secretary of tho parent society, that Duneiiin was tho first city and Now Zealand tho first country to inaugurate a branch of tho society in the British Dominions beyond tho seas. The range of eugenic science was exceedingly wide, and' its scope extromoly varied. 'It comprised—(l) Biology in so far as that 'branch of learning was concerned with heredity and selection; (2) anthropology in so far as it threw light on questions of race and tho priceless institution of marriage; (3) polities (in the classical and broad icr.se of the word) in so far as tbey bore on parenthood in relation to oivio worth; (4) ethics in so far a* they proinoted ideals that loci up to the improvement of social quality; and (5) religion in so far as it strengthened and sanctified the sense of eugenic duty. Bore, then, was the platform upon which' all men might meet. Whatever antagonism might exist in other departments of life and work, it common interest in the welfare of the racc here bound all men together. Scientists, educationalists', publicists of every shade of thought and opinion, economists, philanthropists, religionists, and rationalists might in the eugenic field, without sacrifico of principle or loss of dignity, combine to s'nk their differences and agree to meet togother and .discuss impartially and impersonally the science of eugenics for the coinmonweal.

As illustrative of the benefits which could not fail to accrue from the careful study of eugenics in its varying aspwts, ho would in the brief tiina at his disposal confine hirr,s£i'.l to pointing one cimt ougcnics aiiired at enlightening ignorance upon tho important and essential subject ol sex. It had been forcibly shown in one of tho many valuable artieko contributed to tho Eugenics lteview that tho sextroubles so rife in every section of society wero largely tlif. legacy of the dishonour in which eex truths were generally held. This dishonour—commonly exhibited in obscene innunendo and filthy jest—was tho outcomo of prevalent ignorance of the whole truth, while half-truths wero communicated in irreverent and unseemly language. Ths surreptitious and misleading fashion in which children for tho most part lirst_ secured answers' to their natural inquiries was primarily responsible for much of tho misehiof. The remedy would seem to lie in fearless honesty of statsment, coupled with a. vigilant safeguarding ot ths child from all irreverence. This safeguarding and truth telling could scarcely bo commenced too early, for many a bright boy and many a charming girl, ere they entered their teens, had that mcst marvellous of all faculties—tho imagination—smirched irretrievably. They might, and for tho most part did, grow up to bo good nienamt pure women, but evil sex communications almost inevitably cast their shadow upon and marred the happiness of after life. Timely and etFectual truth-telling should commence in tho home, its foundation bo laid by tho parents, for in the absence of such foundations the school teacher was almcst powerlets. ' • Hero they touched upon one of tho most difficult and delicate enterprises upon which tho eugenist was impelled to embark. On that point ho was indebted lo a helpful chapter on "The Cultivation of the Imagination," in. Mr 11. G. Wells's suggestive work "Mankind in the Making.'' Although they might not bo disposed to endorse the whole of Mr Wells's philosophy, yet in this matter his counsels contained much wisdom. Tho main reason why that discussion presented especial difficulty was because it touched almost all—except perhaps a few peculiarly constituted souls—so intimately and disturbingly. Happily tho eugenist was in a position to lift the discussion above thi. morbidly sentimental and olten mawkish level on wnich too many of our spasmodic social purity movements had rested and hud carried it up to the elevated atmosphere of scientific fact, for while the majority of parents and school teachers ivei-c _ deeply _ impressed with the evil of a policy of kiisoez fairc, vet they wero ove-r troubled by the thought that unwise and unskilful interference nriglit render the remedy worse than the' original disease. They lcealled their own cxpcriciiee and recogui-::d that sex initiation was not only a complex but a very shy and secret process. To put. the mutter plainly, the root i-ea:on why Sox subjects were not generally talked about between father anil ton. between mother and daughter, was becamo of fear. Eugenics invoked the aid of scientific research to put that fear to llight. Jt brought to light the truth concerning the existing stato of tilings, its injustice, its waste of human happiness. It told the tale of tho annual hideous sacrifice of girls, menially scarcely better than children, lo the conventional delicacy of discussion. It, convicted society of granting freedom without adequate instruction, while exacting an inexorablo |ienalty. By that blindfokffretdom multitudes of lives were hopelessly ruined; hundreds of boys and rirls, at the start, never had a elianea in life. While, yet in ignorance of their most eacrcd powers, they became involved in the central drama of existence, the serious business of love. Thch followed unexpected surprises, cuhiinatin.g in terrible tragi'dict-. It was safe to say that much of the inodcrn revolt against marriage--so faithfully reflected in the .sex-novel and the problem play—was the direct outcome of the antieugenic union, mi its turn the result of ignorance of the great mysteries of reproduction.

Tho evil needed, no stressing. It was sufficiently apparent; it- devolved upon a society like that to suggest the best remedy. The bread facts of health and life, tira oxHtcnc? of c'Ttiun dangers, needed efart'ly mid plainly setting forth—first to parents and teachers, and through thorn to tho children. Jixpcrionoo showed that in that, matter books had u superior value, the printed pago was an iin|K?reon:d counsellor. .Sooner oi laier every boy, evcrv girl, must awaken. It was important to sccure that the awakening should not come too »oon. nor amid ."-umuindings, but it was absolutely cf.scnti:il Uiai it should not ba an awakening of ignorance. To quote Mr Wells:—"They cannot awaken in a void. Au ignorance kept beyond Nature may corimpt into ugly sccreciis, into morcso and sinister seclusions, worse than the ovils wo hav-o suppressed." The true antisopticof tho soul was not ignorance, but a touch of the heroic in the heart and in the imagination. There was a mass cf tir.e literature to-day wherein love ;hoi>s clear and noble. They should see that tho risbt stuff was irar them and tjic wrong stuff as far as possible away. " Chase cad and quack together, and for the rest, iu this matter leava thcan alouo."

In closing he would anticipate an objection which might possibly lx> raised, that eugenics were anti-religious and antagonistic) to the Christian institution of marvaigc. On that point the words o! Uev. W. H. Inge, Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity at .Cambridge, and one of tlio vice-presidents cf the London society, should be sufficient. Mr Inge was exceedingly emphatic when lie said: "Christian ethics involves nn terms with any scheme of scientific rnee-culturc which would destroy ilie sancitity of marriage." To which might bo added the words of a professor and reader like Sir Francis Galton: "The institution of marriage as now sanctified by religion and safeguarded bv law in the more highly civilised nations, may not be ideally perfect, but it is the best that has hitherto been devised for the parties primarily conK-rned, for their children, for home life, and for society."

Might, he echo the warning uttered by the founder of tils science when ho said:

" I soo no impossibility in eugenics liecoming a religious dogma among mankind, but its details must first be sedulously worked out in the study." Over-zeal by hasty action would do harm by holding out expectations of a near golden age which would certainly be falsified, and cause the science to he discredited. The first and main point was to secure the general acceptance of eugenics as a hopeful and most important study. Then let- its principles work into the heart of tho nation, which would gradually give practical ctTect to tliem in ways that they might not wholly foresee. Mr Grinling thou moved—" That the NewZealand Branch of the London Eugenics Society bo formed in Dunedin." SrKAKIXG BIOLOGIL'ALLT. Dr Benham seconded the motion, and said that those of his -hearers who had carefully considered the aims and methods of eugenics knew that it concerned not only tho present generation, but future generations; so the formation of u branch of the Eugenics Education Society would appeal to eyery cue who had tJte welfare of our -race at heart. Eugenics, which Mr Grinling had rendered " Well bred," might also bo translated "Healthy Parenthood," using the word healthy in its widest sense to imply all that was best in body and mind. In addition to tho moral education, dealt with by the mover of litis resolution, thero was also the scientific aspect to bo considered, for one of the chief aims of the London society was the education of the public as to the importance, nay, the necessity, if the British Empire was to continue its existence as a leading factor in the world's polity, of pursuing a course in respect of parenthood analogous to that by which the human race had gained its ascendency over the e.nimals from which it/ had sprung. Some sort of selection must be exorcised, not by the survival of tha fittest, contending with one another in all i.ho vari<?<l sispocts of {.ho struggle for existence, but the selection of those that were fit for one particular and supremo function in life--viz., parenthood. There was, therefore, a necessity for tho instruction of the public as to the importance of the known facts of .hereditv; that was, as to what characters were anil what were not capable of being transmitted. He found, as a lecturer on evolution. that Pp°|ile liad the greatest difficulty in appreciating the difference between tho two phenomena which Gallon had epitomised by the words " Nature" and " Nurture." Thoro were certain characters, mental a, well as physical, which had teen proved by biologists to he passed on from parent to offspring, and there were certain v othcr characters, which all available evidence tended to show could not be tints transmitted. Some characters wwe present at. and even before birth ; these might be said to be part of the ''nature" of the animal, and wok! transmissible; other characters wore acquired during jife, such as -were obtained by education, liy the impress of their surroundings, by the use of various faculties and organs, and so forth. These were tho outcome of " nurture," and these, whether thay were mental or physical, wore not inherited. It thus appeared that, given every opportunity for self-improve-ment, yet a oarcnt could not hand that improvement oil to his children. It WiL? only tho ability lo improve that was inborn. Speaking biologically, that ability to be or not to bo existed in tho germ cells from which the "now generation arose. The improvement itself was impressed only on tho body that contained tho germ cells. Those germ cells were formed at a very early i>eriod of an individual's existence, long before'lie was born. It was a com-mon-place to biologists that it was those germ cells alone that handed on characters from one generation to another, and no matter what might bo the conditions of the individual's surroundings, those germ cells were not directly affected. Hence tho offspring were not essentially imni-ovcd by the self-improvement of the parent. If that were true, and no far as biology taught from abundant and irrefutable evidence it was almost certainly true, then: they must recognise that the .majority of philanthropic schemos pursued with tho idea of improving the race were absolutely futile. " Improved conditions of life mean better health for the existing population; greater educational facilities mean greater cap;icity for finding and using existing ability; but they do not mean that tho next generation will j:>e physically or mortally better than its parents." Thus spoke Karl Pearson. Eugenics aimed l at, encouraging the hcaJthy, both physically and mentally, whether high born or low, to marry and beget children. It was thus in lino with all who desired to seo the sinking birth-rate raised; but differed from the usual schemes in that quantity was not so much emphasised as quality. That selection for parenthood implied rejection from possible pa-rcnthood of all those who were in any way afflicted in mind or body, so us to 1)0 unfit for that privilege; for the eugenist insisted strongly that parenthood was tho highest nriviicge of mankind. The efforts, therefore, ol this society would be- directed, in time, towards the establishment of a. strong public opinion against the marriage of st'eh undesirables as alcoholics, cpileptics, feebleminded, those suffering from certain liercditablo diseases, and such like. It was worth while noting that though in Britain the birth-rale of tho desirables was decreasing, that of tho undesirables was practically stationary, so that the relative number of the latter was steadily increasing and the raw wa-s rapidly tending towards degeneration. Lest anyone should think that the scheme of the cugetiist was Utopian iir its aim, let them hear in mind that there were already, both in civilised and in uncivilised communities;, all sorts of restrictions analogous to those suggested l,v the eugenist, which had ocme about in the course of ages, owing to public opinion, to religious or civil or tribal customs. Tho Jewish race was a cm© in point, with its strong disapproval of intermarriage with Gentiles. In t.iie older countries, especially amongst the upper elates of society, marriage. outside that circle is discountenanced; the marriage of white women with, the yellow races or with dark Asiatic or African' races was universally deprecated. The disfavour with which a. parent looked 1 on the marriage of his daughter to a. man, whom lie. knew to be addicted to alcohol was another instance. No longer did the world look with complacency oit the marriage o( consumptives. And in savage races there were many curious laws by which) maj-.ria.ge with members of the same family or tribe was forbidden. The eugenist'theii sought ta establish a strong sentiment leading eventually to legislation against the possibility of marriage of tho unfit. Improved social conditions, although to be welcomed on every ground, would not. of themselves stem the tide of degeneration or lead to tho permanent, improvement of the race. They must educate (he people that they might recognise the overwhelm:ng importance of the facts of heredity, as published in journals ami books on biology, as the outcome of careful scicntific observations and experiments on plants and anitnak These matters were no longer more guesswork, but were capable of be?n" proved, and somo of the facts were foreseen with mathematical accuracy. Oiw of the most active centres of research on heredity as affecting the human race was the Biometrieal Laboratory in University College, London, uwkr the supervision of Professor Karl Pearson, who, as a- randt. of statistical research, followed Sir Francis Gnlton iir his conclusion that "Selection for parentage is the solo effective procc*.? known to science by which a, race can continuously progress." As ? ' biologist, then, he viewed this proposal to form a Eugenic Education Society with great interest. NEED FOR INSTRUCTION. The Rev. Canon C'unon-Siggers moved— " That the constitution, a.s jaid on the table, be adopted." Tho Canon said the constitution might be considered as consoling of thrcK parts: (1) The aims cf the Eugenic Society, some of which were the national importance of eugenics to bring homo eugenic ideals in rele.tion to parenthood, to spread a knowledge of tho laws of heredity, of furthering eugenic teaching at home and in schools. .(2) The government of the society's machinery for carrying out the above aims. (3) The subjects of lectures and methods of work. Tho Canon went on to say that there was a special need to instruct the youth and maidens in sex problems, localise not one in 100 grew up in ignorance, and, unfortunately, most- of their knowledge ca"'c from- tainted sources. If they did not learn from goal sources, then they learned

from bad ones. The aim of that society was to secure that knowledge should como froni, good .source?. Parenthood was an instinct which should be considered as .having a responsibility to the "race." In the work of that society science and religion would he co-woiker-?, as they were in all g-ecd works. Roth were essential. Science would show them how to produce the best, and not the mistaken notion of '' the survival of tlra littest." It was not tho fittest in a bad environment that wes wanted, but ihe Ijest in a good environment. Religion confirmed the truth that the body was I'll? tc-mpls of God, and he who destroyed that tempb would God, by His laws,'destroy. Science came to their aid to show how- to elevate tho race and to produce a healthy progeny. It demanded that the inwiw, weak-minded, and diseased should cense to produce their like. The society desired to influence public opinion to entourage the parenthood of the desirable, and to discourage tho. parenthood of the undesirable. Religion, inasmuch as it. regard>d sin as opposed to man's best development, provided a power whereby man might conquer tho lower, and' reach the higher, legislation would In ncccsjary in conformity with these ideals in our lime. It was to be hoped that a "Curfew Act" might bo passed soon to prevent young children from being en tlw streets after 8 p.m. without a guardian; also that tho act against C'igar-etto smoking by youths \x niuilo efkebive. In conclusion, ilio Cation said he agreed with the closing words of i.ho Hon. Dr Findlay. who had written to him to say that ho had accepted tho honorary presidency of the society:

" I believe these sccietics are destined to do a vast a,mount of good work in this country." In that belief the Canon asked them all to accept the constitution. ISOLATION' OF DEGENERATES. In s'eondiny tho motion. Dr Sicdoberg said: Lilto others there" that night, when tirst approached about the possibility of forming a liufenies Society hero, s'no was not quite certain of what it aimed at, but, Jilco others, began studying the subject, and now bad a. better idea of the «ims of tho society and the work it hoped to accomplish. To-her mind eugenics was a science which evolved slowly through tha course of ages, and with tho advance of knowledge and civilisation, -)ut its evolution could be brought about more quickly by tho formation of a society which would spread a knowledge of the principles underlying it, and educate parents and children alike in tho importance of developing all those qualities of mind and body which were associated with tho best specimens of humanity. As other speakers had pointed out, tho vast subject of heredity was at its root, and one of the aims of the society would be to spread a knowledge of tho laws of heredity, and thoir influence on the future of tho race. They were aware that a large body of the public would ask: " How can these principles bo taught when nobody can doline what are the best qualities for transmission?" She thought nobody could delino minutely what were the qualities to be sought in transmission, but everybody could say broadly what tho qualities and diseases were which should not be transmitted, ."iiid it was only the more flagrant deficiencies of humanity which it society like this would attempt to doal with, or which, possibly, could be dealt with in tho human race. Nobody would dream of attempting lo introduce among human beings the methods which are employed for improving tlic breed of animals. Marriage must always be a matter of free choice, but the choice could bo guided by training the youth of both sexes to avoid mating with criminals, degenerates, and the physically unlit. When children wore trained in that way their feelings became almost instinct. Those whoso work enable them to follow up the life history of feebleminded or degenerate men and women, had no difficulty ill citing cases where the offspring of. these creatures are found to iill our prisons and industrial schools with dangerous criminals. need \vas forced U[:on tliem of somo legislation which would give a magistrate power to isolate these people in a home of detention for their whole lives. No harshness was meant, every care and attention could be given to them, hut they must bo isolated. Already a general spread of knowledge and of tho laws of heredity had taught tho moro thoughtful parents in tho community to inquire into tho health history of those about to mairy their children. It was a good sign when they saw people inquiring of their medical attendant whether they were wiso ill allowing their daughters to see much of certain mon who had some .physical, weakness or a poor health history. They themselves did not know which were the defects that, counted in race, culture, and they sought knowledge from these who did. One great advanco which should tend towards the improvement of the raco was the greater number of avenues of work which were opening up for women. Where previously trie first instinct of, animals (self-preserva-tion) compelled women to be parasites on men, even though some of these supports were too degenerate to keep them for any length of time, now that women could sapport themselves they wero free to make their choice in accordance with their inherent instincts, which would usually l» found on the side of health, strength, and capability in the struggle for existence. As these qualities usually conduced to a fair degree of wealth also, the healthy and capablo would be chosen in preferonco to tile degenerate, oven if the latter |n»sessed inherited wealth.. Dr Salecby, in his Parenthood and Race Culture, quoted a few lines from Dr Wallace, the co-discoverer with Darwin of the principal of natural selection. Dr Wallace described selection through marriage as the moro permanently effective agency through which the improvement of human character might be achieved. In his opinion, this could only be achieved when " a greatly improved social system rendered all our womon economically and socially free to choose; while a rational and complete education would have taught them.tho importance of their choice both lo themselves and to humanity. It would act through the agency of wellknown facts and principles of human nature, leading to a continuous reduction of the lower types in each successive generation, and it was the only mode yet suggested which would automatical.y n.nd naturally effect this. There would always be difference of opinion as to whether physical Or mental fitness should be most encouraged.. Certainly it should he both together if possible, but even in the supremacy of a nation it was always brain that counted. Tho Russian peasant was a physically iwrfect animal, but it was his lack of brail's which mado it so difficult for the Russian reformer to bring about any improvement in the peasants' condidition. Similarly, numbers alone could never be of much value to a race, as witness tho teeming millions of China. It is -\lwavs oualitv. not quantity, which counts. It was certainly important that tho physical health of children, and young men and women, should be seen to, but she thought the Government was awakening to tho need of inquiring into such questions as child labour in dairying districts, the medical inspection of school children, and tho care of the mother and infant in outlying districts. _ It was a retogrado step when they abolished the female inspection of factories, in which hundreds of girls wero housed daily, as men could never be properly aware of what was required in supervising factories where the health of women was concerned.

Tiip.se. however, were' not the points which a society of I his sort would take up; tins societywonkl deal rather with nil questions relating to marriage and morals such as the marriage of the unlit, the support. and care of children by t-he father as "oil as by the mothci, and the training of parents and children in the necessity for healthy mating, antV various other matters utflily affecting the wefiaro of the race, winch would prcsont themselves to the committee as the work advanced. FERTIMTT OK THE UNFIT. 11l moving the nomination of the council, Mr H. D. Bedford said lie thought that a glance at tlioj-c iwuues would in itself be an assurance that- the subject would receive that, discreet handling it required. It was, at libs same time, oiro of the most pressing and most difficult subjects a society could possibly handle. He had keen a'sfced to >say a few words as a solicitor and a Ulan of the world. He wa.s hopeful that the. iirlluence of the society would be to counteract the proportion of the fertilitv of the unfit and the sterility of the fit. The last was very much manifest to-day, and showed, in his opinion, an un-Christian shirking of a sacred obligation. Some years ago lib attention had been drawn to a woman well-known in the neighbourhood she lived in as being insane. She had a ifirnily of nine children. Such a calamity as that had impressed him very much. In last Friday's papers they saw two cases in which a society had called the attention of the public t-o the alarming increase of illegitimate birtlw. The Xorth Canterbury Charitable Aid Boa.rd was also calling attention to t-lic alarming increase in tilw number of children .of imbecile mother.?. That alone showed the necessity for a society like the Eugenic Society, which could uh.6 its influence to arouse the decadents. It was quite true that was a great number of illegitimate ohitdren barn of Ilia young in this city. It wag not more prevalent here than iir other places, but there seemed to be q persistent shameless-

ness about it all. It showed a. groat depravity of mind. He ivas inclined to think that this society's teaching would in time have to bo supplemented bv legislative, effort-. He believed the Curfew ].<uv. already coining iir other places, v.onld ho found to work beneficially. Ho would' also take the opportunity of deprecating a passible cril icism that he was taking a, too gloomy view. He hy no means 'did so, but. ho would remind them that this fertility of the unfit was not a new, but a very old, thing. Ti;o human rao? was not worse to-<lay than wore our forefathers. Wo were improving. Wo h«l a greater sensitiveness to tiie follies of our time t.kvn bad our ancestors. Whore men in former t.imeii looked upon certain things with equanimity, we did the very reverse. Th> idea t.hnt thorn were a number of ijMefiMry evils was gradually fading from our minds. He thought that mooting showed a ro-oluto spirit to tackle one of the most difficult, problems with which a generation could •have to deal. Miss Macgoorge seconded the motion, which was carried. ELECTION" OF COI'XCU.. Members of council wero elected n ; follows: Ilsv. Canon Ctiraon-Siggers, Revs. (1. Kr.owles Smith and E. A. Axelsetr, Professors Salmoiul and Benham, I.)r- Bathgate, Bloinfield. Church, Clres, Will, \Y. M, Macdonald, Siedebertr, Messrs 11. D. Bcdfoiyl, G. Bcnsbead. .U. Cohen. 0. Flamank, Grinliivg, Mcedamcj Leslie- Harris, Grinling, and Miss Macgeorge.