Certain races of men, without consciousness of their action, have varied in the character of their choices (sex selection) in such a way as to bring about varied conditions in their races, with respect to resistance to disease, of mental capacity and to moral quality. The Mongolian differs from the Hebrew, the Anglo-Saxon differs from the African.
It depends largely upon the action of those now upon the earth, who are now making their choices of marriage, as to whether the races of the future shall be physical, mental or moral weaklings, or whether they shall be physically brave and hardy, mentally broad and profound, and morally sterling.
Summary
To summarize: There are three main lines along which eugenic improvement of the race may be attained:
(1) Education of all people on the inheritability of traits; (2) segregation of defectives so that they may not mingle their family traits with those on sound lines; (3) sterilization of certain gross and hopeless defectives, to preclude the propagation of their type.
There would seem to be great need of State Eugenic Boards, to correlate and to promote these activities, in the interests of the future population, and to give expert advice as to how to legislate wisely, and individual advice as to how to mate wisely. The latter function now falls entirely upon the Eugenics Record Office at Cold Spring Harbor, where the work is being carried on with great efficiency with the funds at command.
REFERENCES
[57] Darbishire, A. D.: Breeding and the Mendelian Discovery, Cassell & Company, Ltd., London, New York, Toronto and Melbourne, 1911.
[58] Davenport, Chas. B.: Heredity in Relation to Eugenics, Henry Holt & Company, New York, 1911.
[59] Dugdale, Robert L.: The Jukes, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, New York and London, 1910.