The Malthusian Handbook: Designed to Induce Married People to Limit Their Families Within Their Means.Anonymous
Philosophy
The Malthusian Handbook: Designed to Induce Married People to Limit Their Families Within Their Means.
Anonymous
Birth control; Malthusianism
Dr. Giovanni Tari, Naples.
Dr. Alice Vickeby.
Hon. Secretary:
Mr. W. H. Reynolds, New Cross, London, S.E.
RULES.
I.--Name.
That this Society be called "The Malthusian League."
II.--Objects.
That the objects of this Society be:
1. To agitate for the abolition of all penalties on the public
discussion of the Population Question, and to obtain such a statutory
definition as shall render it impossible, in the future, to bring
such discussions within the scope of the common law as a misdemeanor.
2. To spread among the people, by all practicable means, a knowledge
of the law of population, of its consequences, and of its bearing
upon human conduct and morals.
III.--Principles.
1. "That population has a constant tendency to increase beyond the
means of subsistence."
2. That the checks which counteract this tendency are resolvable into
positive or life-destroying, and prudential or birth-restricting.
3. That the positive or life-destroying checks comprehend the
premature death of children and adults by disease, starvation, war
and infanticide.
4. That the prudential or birth-restricting check consists in the
limitation of offspring by abstention from marriage, or by prudence
after marriage.
5. That prolonged abstention from marriage--as advocated by Malthus--is
productive of many diseases and of much sexual vice; early marriage,
on the contrary, tends to ensure sexual purity, domestic comfort,
social happiness, and individual health; but it is a grave social
offence for men and women to bring into the world more children than
they can adequately house, feed, clothe and educate.
6. That over-population is the most fruitful source of pauperism,
ignorance, crime and disease.
7. That the full and open discussion of the Population Question is
a matter of vital moment to society, and such discussion should be
absolutely unfettered by fear of legal penalties.
IV.--Executive.
1. That the officers of the League consist of a president,
vice-presidents, council, treasurer, secretaries, solicitor and
auditors.
2. That the government of the League be vested in a council, consisting
of a president, vice-presidents, and secretary (by virtue of their
respective offices), of twenty members who shall be elected annually
at a general meeting, and of a duly-appointed representative from
each branch of the League which may hereafter be formed.
3. That the council have power to appoint a treasurer and secretaries
from amongst its own members; to elect a president, vice-presidents,
and solicitor, subject to the approval of the next general meeting;
to fill up vacancies in its own ranks, and to make the necessary
bye-laws for carrying out these laws and for the general management
of the League.
4. That all candidates for election as officers shall be nominated
one month before the annual general meeting, and that such nomination
shall be publicly announced, the form and manner to be determined by
the council.
V.--Membership.
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