The Decline of Civilization
THE national council on race betterment is said to be an association of scientists and sociologists. They are to hold their next meeting at Battle Creek, Michigan, June 8, to discuss ways and means of "lessening the appalling tax that civilization has left upon mankind in the way of degeneracy." In the prospectus of subjects to be discussed in this meeting, it is affirmed that "man is losing his teeth; his sight is dim; is losing his sense of smell; he is increasingly subject to cancer, insanity, Bright's disease, heart weakness—all maladies of circulation; his expectation of life is growing smaller; his crime record is increasing at an extraordinary pace." The fallacious teachers of evolution, who have been trying to make us believe that the race is getting stronger and better, and fallacious teachers among the sociologists, who have been trying to persuade us that morality is strengthened in mankind, ought to be paralyzed by the overwhelming facts that show to the contrary. Superficial thinkers may content themselves with following some of the popular fads in the prevalent but absurd styles of thought. Serious and reflective minds, however, will recognize existing fact as it presents itself so palpably on every side of us.