BIRTH CONTROL
[To the Editor of the SimurAron.]
Sin,—I hesitate to break a lance with one whom I honour, and particularly on the subject of birth control, which dislike discussing in public, although, I suppose, I am as much responsible as any man for its public discussion, for I started the National Birth-rate Commission which gave the first strong impetus to the prevailing interest. But I can plead that ours was a strictly scientific enquiry and that we per- sistently discouraged public controversy at a time when, as now, scientific research and not plausible assertion is required, whether from the episcopal or the judicial bench. With all respect to the judge quoted by Bishop Welldon, I never heard that he was an authority on birth control. I suggest that the bachelor judge in question should not presume upon our respect nor upon his position in order to give vent to his views upon problems which he is not appointed to pronounce upon in his capacity as a judge. It is difficult to discover from Bishop Welldnn's letter what he means by birth control. Of course, he should say the prevention of conception. He wants to know whether the physically impaired citizen is entitled to procreate as many children as he likes ? Well, by what right, and how, would Bishop Welldon stop him ? Is Bishop Welldon capable of determining the degree of bodily or - mental deficiency which would deprive lawfully married citizens from having is child to succeed them ? I do not think any medical man could act in such a grave matter with.altisolute.certainty unless he knew far more than it seems likely he could know. It is hard to believe that any generation, and particularly this generation, has sufficient knowledge or foresight, or moral, physical or mental superiority to tamper with the source of life and to determine -who shall or shall not be born into this world whose temporary madness is obvious even to the mad.----1 am, Sir, &c.,
Thackeray :Rums MAncittxr. [We have shortened this letter fur reasons of spae... S'pectator.]
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