Race Improvement and Socialism.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 1, Issue 5, 20 January 1911, Page 10

Race Improvement and Socialism.

In a recent number of " The Eugenics ' RevieAV," Dr S. Henry has a very interesting article on the interrelationship of socialism and race improvement. He affirms that there is a tendency at times in the less thoughtful disciples of racial improvement and of socialism to allow their ardour to outrun their discretion. Whilst Marx, the founder of modern socialism, Dr Henry says makes the economic factor the basal foundation of society, his folloAvers have sometimes thoughtlessly contended that this means that the economic environment is all-important as determining the man, his mind, his morals and his character. " According to their idea, it is only necessary to alter our present economic structure in order to effect a radical change in the physical, mental and moral condition of the people." Such off-hand reasoning is absurd, Dr Henry contends, for if the effects of good surroundings are good, then the effects of bad surroundings in time must lead unavoidably to complete racial degeneration; so that the labouring classes, being most exposed to unAvholesome influences, should by this time be a mass of degenerates— a conclusion to Avhich the socialist is naturally the very first to object. Nevertheless the economic organisation of society is both necessary and valuable, particularly at the present time. " The socialist proposes to bring about, by the abolition of the private OAA'nership of the means of production, an equalisation of the distribution of wealth, such that every man should have equal opportunity to exercise his innate powers to the Avidest extent. . . . Equal chance in the race of life for each Avithout distinction—that is the aim of the socialist policy." But it must not be argued, continues Dr Henry, that at present " those aggregated in the slums are the dregs of the population. They may be so in an economic sense; nay, they may have deteriorated physically, mentally and morally, as the result of the adverse conditions of their life and labour; but to argue that, because of this, they are, biologically speaking, of an inferior caste, is entirely false. ... It has even been argued by Professor Ray Lankester that if degeneration is actually taking place in our population, it will rather have to be looked for in the ' higher,' Avell-fed, Avell-cared-for and Avell-nursed classes than in the poor struggling croAvds of the labouring classes, AA-here the Aveakest are vigorously Aveeded out in the battle of life." Our present-day conditions are. Dr Henry says, so glaringly unequal, and the accidental factors so obvious, that in order to arrive at a sound basis of human valuation, we should first of all have to eliminate the disturbing elements of social inequality, and this is just Avhat socialism stands for. It Avill lead to the "revaluation of all values," according to natural abilities. Dr Henry makes a strong and sane plea for economic freedom for women. So long as woman is dependent, he says, for her livelihood on man, beautiful sentiments are of no avail. Freedom of choice cannot be given to avomen until they are under such social conditions as assure them complete economic independence. These conditions Avould be fulfilled under socialism. It is the socialist alone among social reformers Avho recognises this essential fact. .. Referring to the State endowment of particular individuals (maternity endowment, and so forth), Dr Henry says: ' ' All Aye have to say to this is that in a matter of such vital social importance, individual effort is a poor substitute for the general endowment of the people as a Avhole. Here once more the socialist steps in. He alone stands for equality of opportunity, based not on the theoretical ground of political liberty, but on the practical ground of economic freedom, vouchsafing to all, in return for services rendered to the community, the proper means of living, that is living in the real sense, making possible the enjoyment of life, and not mere existence." Dr Henry contends that man can so conduct his affairs as to eliminate more and more the Avorst features of the battle of life, lifting the struggle for existence oil to the higher, more moral and intellectual plane of Avhat may be called the " struggle for excellence." The Avhole trend of civilisation has been in this direction, and the socialist is only folloAving up the lines of progress to its logical conclusion. "For socialism, by changing the economic conditions of life, Avould abolish the presentday capitalistic valuation, AA'hich measures success in terms of money, crushing out the studious and the moral man, avlio does not knoAv how to ' get on' . . . and create such social conditions as Avould lead to the automatic

and natural survival of the types most desired. . . . Socialist morality is essentially ' social ' morality based on the community of interest of all citizens. ... It tries to place the ethical standard on a sound practical foundation by establishing economic freedom and equality for all members of the community alike- For —and this is our final plea—to preach a high ideal Avithout at the time establishing the means of attaining it, is futile effort." " As a social problem, this problem of tuberculosis is obviously a part of the general economic and social problem of securing a good, wholesome, happy, social life. Involved in the fight against this ravaging disease is the big social problem of insuring to each and every individual a fair chance to make a decent living, to be educated, to Avork, and to live under circumstances and conditions that Avill alloAV him or her, man, woman, or child, to attain his or her greatest possible measure of happiness and of usefulness. In a Avord, the problem of tubercolosis is a part of the great problem of good living conditions for all. It is a part of the problem of economic democracy."—Professor Raymond V. Phelan, in the " Westminster RevieAV." " Possessed of only partial citizenship, the woman's efforts at economic reform are less effective ; unfortified by political poAver (in America and Great Britain), she is obliged to appeal for public funds and humanitarian laAA's to men, Avho are more or less commercialised. To men of poAver and influence, generally speaking, cattle and crops and profits are more important than human life and human happiness. Men fight instinctively for material rewards and advantages; men fight instinctively for the preservation of human life. It is true that a secluded and restricted, existence has developed many women into a narrowness of outlook, but the woman broadened by the awakening in her of socialised consciousness is a tremendous force for justice and righteousness. Let women be encouraged and helped to carry the altruism of their sex in the home out into the AA r orld to ennoble and bless mankind."—Professor Raymond V. Phelan, in the " Westminster RevieAA'."