Note 262 — Chapter XXVII · POOR-RELIEF, CORRECTION, AND OTHER WELFARE PROBLEMS

The marriage of feeble-minded or other mentally defective persons ought to be prevented, for the results of such marriages are bad for the whole community. They help to fill the poorhouses, the asylums, and the jails. There are some who believe that the government ought to go further and lend its influence towards the promotion of greater care in determining the marriage of persons who are not mentally defective. Marriage, as has been shown in an earlier chapter, is the basis of the home and hence the foundation of the whole social order. It is an institution of exceedingly great importance to the well-being of society. Yet we leave the whole thing to the caprice of individuals, or their passing fancy, or to the accidents of chance friendships. Whatever may be the inspiration to marriage it can truly be said that many unions of man and woman contribute nothing to the well-being of present or future society. Is it right that an institution of such importance to the human race, both present and future, should be so little controlled by law, by custom, or by public opinion and so largely left to the discretion of individuals? Can the race be improved in that way? Beyond preventing the marriage of mentally degenerate persons is there any further action that society ought to take?