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176 PROBLEMS CONFRONTING RUSSIA
stand and fall, therefore, with the nature of the financial
structure of human society. Judging from the trend of
modern legislation there is, however, hope that this aspect
of eugenics may benefit in the future in consequence of the
promotion of a sounder distribution of wealth.
The greatest danger to eugenic marriages—yea to the
very existence of marriage itself—lies in immorality and
vice. Christian civilisation has hitherto displayed a culpable
indifference and indulgence in this respect, which can only
be explained as the outcome of hypocrisy, of a false idea
of freedom, and of an utter disregard of the social side of
the problem. Prostitution has been openly tolerated, and
public control has not even been exercised against those
fatal diseases following in the wake of immorality. It is
hard to believe that public authority could be so inert as
to ignore the wholesale infection of men, morally and
physically, brought about by prostitution. Contagious
diseases, such as smallpox, bubonic plague, and others,
have received special attention, and the medical world
have striven to keep down the spreading of these scourges.
But little has been done to prevent a woman, infected with
a most deadly disease, which by the law of heredity passes
its curse on from one generation to another, from poisoning
the blood of all those who are unfortunate enough to come
into contact with her.
In countries now in a state of war, the public
thoroughfares are densely thronged with young soldiers, and in the
open streets immorality has been stealthily and rapidly
fostered, to the growing scandal of public opinion. Certain
measures have been taken to minimise this danger, but still
the evil exists.
It is, therefore, high time that radical methods were
adopted to prevent a further undermining of the health of
the race.
Prostitution should be recognised in its true light as a
crime against the whole structure of State and Society, and
should be punished by the severest legal measures. Fallen
women should be temporarily deprived of their liberty by
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