Now what are likely to be the results of, first, the moral methods, and,
second, the surgical method of our curtailment.
"It does not appear to me," says Dr. Billings (Forum, June, 1893), "that
this lessening of the birth-rate is in itself an evil, or that it will
be worth while to attempt to increase the birth-rate merely for the sake
of maintaining a constant increase in the population, because to neither
this nor the next generation will such increase be specially
beneficial."
To Aristotle, the great advantage of an abundant population was, that
the State was secured against invasion by numerous defenders.
If we can find no stronger justification for a teeming population than
this to-day, we will be forced to agree with Dr. Billings, that neither
to this nor the next generation, is a great increase especially
beneficial.
But the moral effect of judicial limitation is very great. If men and
women can marry young, one great incentive to vice is removed. If
married people can bear their children when they can best support them,
they will marry when their bodies are matured, and bear their families
when their finances are matured.
For children well provided for, and educated, and born after full
physical and mental maturity in their parents, turn out the best men and
women.
Pages:
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162