t duty to society lies
in self-realization, will come a greater and deeper love for all of
humanity. For in attaining a true individuality of her own she will
understand that we are all individuals, that each human being is
essentially implicated in every question or problem which involves the
well-being of the humblest of us. So to-day we are not to meet the
great problems of defect and delinquency in any merely sentimental or
superficial manner, but with the firmest and most unflinching attitude
toward the true interest of our fellow beings. It is from no mere
feeling of brotherly love or sentimental philanthropy that we women must
insist upon enhancing the value of child life. It is because we know
that, if our children are to develop to their full capabilities, all
children must be assured a similar opportunity. Every single case of
inherited defect, every malformed child, every congenitally tainted
human being brought into this world is of infinite importance to that
poor individual; but it is of scarcely less importance to the rest of us
and to all of our children who must pay in one way or another for these
biological and racial mistakes. We look forward in our vision of the
future to children brought into the world because they are desired,
called from the unknown by a fearless and conscious passion, because
women and men need children to complete the symmetry of their own
development, no less than to perpetuate the race. They shall be called
into a world enhanced and made beautiful by the spirit of freedom and
romance--into a world wherein the creatures of our new day, unhampered
and unbound by the sinister forces of prejudice and immovable habit, may
work out their own destinies. Perhaps we may catch fragmentary glimpses
of this new life in certain societies of the past, in Greece perhaps;
but in all of these past civilizations these happy groups formed but a
small exclusive section of the population. To-day our task is greater;
for we realize that no section of humanity can be reclaimed without the
regeneration of the whole.

I look, therefore, into a Future when men and women will not dissipate
their energy in the vain and fruitless search for content outside of
themselves, in far-away places or people. Perfect masters of their own
inherent powers, controlled with a fine understanding of the art of life
and of love, adapting themselves with pliancy and intelligence to the
milieu in which they find themselves