CHAPTER X!
!
!METHODS OF RESTRICTION!
!
The means of
restriction can be divided into coercive and non-coercive.
!We shall
discuss the former first, interpreting the word "coercive" very
broadly.
!From an
historical point of view, the first method which presents itself is execution.
This has been used since the beginning of the race, very probably, although
rarely with a distinct understanding of its eugenic effect; and its value in
keeping up the standard of the race should not be underestimated. It is a
method the use of which prevents the rectification of mistakes. There are
arguments against it on other grounds, which need not be discussed here, since
it suffices to say that to put to death defectives or delinquents is wholly out
of accord with the spirit of the times, and is not seriously considered by the
eugenics movement.
The next
possible method castration. This has practically nothing to
recommend it,
except that it is effective--an argument that can also be made for the
"lethal chamber." The objections against it are overwhelming. It has
hardly been advocated, even by extremists, save for those whose sexual
instincts are extremely disordered; but such advocacy is based on ignorance of
the results. As a fact, castration frequently
!does not
diminish the sexual impulses. Its use should be limited to cases where
desirable for therapeutic reasons as well.
!It is possible,
however, to render either a man or woman sterile by a much less serious
operation than castration. This operation, which has gained wide attention in
recent years under the name of "sterilisation," usually takes the
form of vasectomy in man and salpingectomy in woman; it is desirable that the
reader should have a clear understanding of its nature.
The general
advantage claimed for sterilisation, as a method of
preventing the
reproduction of persons whose offspring would probably be a detriment to race
progress, is the accomplishment of the end in view without much expense to the
state, and without interfering with the "liberty and pursuit of
happiness" of the individual. The general
objection to it
is that by removing all fear of consequences from an individual, it is likely
to lead to the spread of sexual immorality and venereal disease. This objection
is entitled to some consideration; but there exists a still more fundamental
objection against sterilisation as a program--namely, that it is sometimes not
fair to the individual. Its eugenic effects may be all that are desired; but in
some cases its
euthenic effects
must frequently be deplorable. Most of the persons whom it is proposed to
sterilise are utterly unfit to hold their own in the
!world, in
competition with normal people. For society to sterilise the feeble-minded, the
insane, the alcoholic, the born criminals, the epileptic, and then turn them
out to shift for themselves, saying, "We have no further concern with you,
now that we know you will leave no children behind you," is unwise. People
of this sort should be humanely isolated, so that they will be brought into
competition only with their own kind; and they should be kept so segregated,
not only until they have passed the reproductive age, but until death brings
them relief from their misfortunes. Such a course is, in most cases, the only
one worthy of a Christian nation; and it is obvious that if such a course is
followed, the sexes can be effectively separated without difficulty, and any
sterilisation operation will be unnecessary.
Generally
speaking, the only objection urged against segregation is that of expense. In
reply, it may be said that the expense will decrease
steadily, when
segregation is viewed as a long-time investment, because the number of future
wards of the state of any particular type will be decreasing every year.
Moreover, a large part of the expense can be met by properly organising the
labor of the inmates. This is particularly
true of the
feeble-minded, who will make up the largest part of the burden because of their
numbers and the fact that most of them are not now under state care. As for the
insane, epileptic, incorrigibly
criminal, and
the other defectives and delinquents embraced in the program, the state is
already taking care of a large proportion of them,
and the
additional expense of making this care life-long, and extending it to those not
yet under state control, but equally deserving of it,
!could probably
be met by better organisation of the labor of the persons involved, most of
whom are able to do some sort of work that will at least cover the cost of
their maintenance.
Of the several
hundred thousand feeble-minded persons in the United States, probably not more
than a tenth are getting the institutional care which is needed in most cases
for their own happiness, and in nearly every case for the protection of
society. It is evident that a
!great deal of
new machinery must be created, or old institutions extended, to meet this
pressing problem--[86] a problem to which, fortunately, the public is showing
signs of awakening. In our opinion, the most promising attempt to solve the
problem has been made by the Training School of Vineland, New Jersey, through
its "Colony Plan." Superintendent E. R. Johnstone of the Training
School describes the possibilities of action along this line, as follows:[87]
There are
idiots, imbeciles, morons and backward children. The morons and the backward
children are found in the public schools in large numbers. Goddard's studies
showed twelve per cent. of an entire school district below the high school to
be two or three
!years behind
their grades, and three per cent. four or more years behind.
It is difficult
for the expert to draw the line between these two classes, and parents and
teachers are loth to admit that the morons are defective. This problem can best
be solved by the establishment of special classes in the public schools for all
who lag more than one year behind. If for no other reason, the normal children
should be relieved of the drag of these backward pupils. The special classes will
become the clearing houses. The training should be largely manual and
industrial and as practical as possible. As the number of classes in any school
district increases, the
classification
will sift out those who are merely backward and a little coaching and special
attention will return them to the
grades. The
others--the morons--will remain and as long as they are not dangerous to
society (sexually or otherwise) they may live at home and attend the special
classes. As they grow older they will
!be transferred
to proper custodial institutions. In the city districts, where there are many
classes, this will occur between twelve and sixteen years of age. In the
country districts it will occur earlier.
!
Many of these
boy-men make excellent farmers, dairymen, swineherds and
!poultry raisers
under proper direction, and in the winter they can work in the tailor, paint,
carpenter, mattress and mat shops.
Nor need this be
confined to the males alone. The girl-women raise poultry, small fruits and
vegetables very successfully. They pickle and can the products of the land, and
in winter do knitting, netting and
