OCR Rendition - approximate

5o EUGENICS marriage restrictions that have proved prohibitive among uncivilised people would require a volume to describe. 5. Persistence in setting forth the national importance of Eugenics. There are three stages to be passed through. Firstly it must be made familiar as an academic question, until its exact importance has been understood and accepted as a fact ; Secondly it must be recognised as a subject whose practical development deserves serious consideration; and Thirdly it must be introduced into the national conscience, like a new religion. It has, indeed, strong claims to become an orthodox religious tenet of the future, for Eugenics co-operate with the workings of Nature by securing that humanity shall be represented by the fittest races. What Nature does blindly, slowly, and ruthlessly, man may do providently, quickly, and kindly. As it lies within his power, so it becomes his duty to work in that direction ; just as it is his duty to succour neighbours who suffer misfortune. The improvement of our stock seems to me one of the highest objects that we can reasonably attempt. We are ignorant of the ultimate destinies of humanity, but feel perfectly sure that it is as noble a work to raise its level in the sense already explained, as it would be disgraceful to abase it. I see no impossibility in Eugenics becoming a religious dogma among mankind, but its details must first be worked out sedulously in the study. Over-zeal, leading to hasty action would do harm, by holding out expectations of a near golden age, which will certainly be falsified and cause the science to be discredited. The first and main point is to secure the general intellectual acceptance of Eugenics as a hopeful and most important study. Then let its principles work into the heart of the nation, who will gradually give practical effect to them in ways that we may not wholly foresee. FRANCIS GALTON. APPENDIX. WORKS By THE AUTHOR BEARING ON EUGENICS: Hereditary Genius (Macmillan), 186q; and Edition, 1892. See especially from P• 340 in the former edition to the end, and from p. 329 in the latter. Human Faculty (Macmillan), x883 (out of print). See especially pp. 305 to end. Natural Inheritance (Macmillan), 1889. This bears on Inheritance generally, not particularly on Eugenics. Huxley Lecture of the Anthropol. Inst. on the Possible Improvement of the Human Breed under the existing Conditions of Law and Sentiment. Nature, 19o1, p. 659; "Smithsonian Report," Washington, 1901, p. 523• ITS DEFINITION, SCOPE AND AIMS 51 CIibPDF - www.fastio.com