Corvallis Gazette

HOW ABOUT THE RACE?

In these days of so-called higher education and general enlightenment there are yet many evils needing correction. We either do not stop to think, or thinking, conclude to let "the other fellow" apply the remedy. In the propagation of man's kind there is less attention paid than to the breeding of hogs. No stock raiser who has enough common sense to succeed in his business would think of breeding inferior animals. Not so with the human race. Here we find every sort of mix-up, good and bad blood (there is nothing personal in this) mental weakness as well as physical in both men and women. Moral degeneracy cannot hope to produce, as the hope of a union, anything less than like degenerates-perhaps criminals of the worst type. There is much in the saw that "like begets like." Therefore is it not reasonable to assume that more care should be exercised in selling marriage certificates? These little bits of bond paper or artificial parchment cost only two or three dollars, but they make possible, in fact, legalize and legitimatize the birth of a being that may cost the commonwealth dearly and who finally swings from the gallows or becomes an inmate of a convicts' cell for all the days he shall live. Some people are responsible for these conditions. Really, those of sane mind are responsible for all conditions, social and otherwise, and cannot hope to shirk the duty of being the keepers of those mentally, physically and morally weak. That there is too little attention paid to the fitness of the contracting parties in the matter of marriage is all too true. Those who are looked upon as an authority in these matters declare in strongest terms that the race in some respects is retrograding. If such be true there can be but two causes for the decadence, unfit marriage and the mode of living in vogue.