III.—Principles.
1. “That population has a constant tendency to increase beyond the means of subsistence.”
2. That the checks which counteract this tendency are resolvable into positive or life-destroying, and prudential or birth-restricting.
3. That the positive or life-destroying checks comprehend the premature death of children and adults by disease, starvation, war and infanticide.
4. That the prudential or birth-restricting check consists in the limitation of offspring by abstention from marriage, or by prudence after marriage.
5. That prolonged abstention from marriage—as advocated by Malthus—is productive of many diseases and of much sexual vice; early marriage, on the contrary, tends to ensure sexual purity, domestic comfort, social happiness, and individual health; but it is a grave social offence for men and women to bring into the world more children than they can adequately house, feed, clothe and educate.
6. That over-population is the most fruitful source of pauperism, ignorance, crime and disease.
7. That the full and open discussion of the Population Question is a matter of vital moment to society, and such discussion should be absolutely unfettered by fear of legal penalties.
IV.—Executive.
1. That the officers of the League consist of a president, vice-presidents, council, treasurer, secretaries, solicitor and auditors.