American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-06-20
Decrease Of Population in France.

e"y POo1hohCc VI earthquake. OnG OIL
the most terrible of these is the steady,
silent decrease of population without
any ostensible sufficient cause. 1t is
one OF those immense evils which prove
the presence of millions of crimes, the
corruption of whole people. A pes
thence, war or famine, may tempo
rarily arrest the growth of nation, as
in the case of the potato rot in Ireland;
but there is no fact more certain than
that the increase or decrease of popu-
lation is, on the whole, the most certain
possible indication, not only of the pros
perity, but of the virtue of any people.
The inhabitants of Pitcairn's Island
decreased until they observed the laws
of morality, but since then have multi
piled eight fold in fifty-six years.
In France, however, the increase of
population has ceased, and the work of
decrease commenced. Within the last
two years, this has arrived at point
to which it had long been Tending
During the previous five years, the in
crease has sunk to less than a quarter
of million. But now, population is
absolutcl y fallen off. What is the cause?
Not war. The 10000 or 70, 900 who
persisted in the Crimea, form but drop
in the bucket. Nor is it the excess of
population, for France has not much
more than half as many inhabitants to
the square mile as Great Britain, where
population steadily increases and dou-
bles in about fifty years. Nor is it en-
igration, for France is not extensively
pouring out her people to colonize new
lands. Algiers is nothing compared
with Canada, or Australia, or the Uni.
ted States as drains upon Europe.
The neglect of marriage and home
institutions is one frightful cause of
decrease, The French love gaiety and
temporary pleasures too much for the
calm duties and quiet happiness of mar
ried life. Every species of irregulari-
ty and vice flows from the neglect of
this tie. A fearful proportion of the
children that are born are illegitimate.
In such state of society, population
Is certain to decline. -.
The extravaganza, luxury, and prodi-
gal expenditure which the reign of Louis
Napoleon has inaugurated, have been
the most immediate cause of this stri-
king effect upon society. Never was
Paris SO gay. never were fashions
so costly. Palaces have arisen as if
by magic, and the most expensive re-
suits are squandered in single evening
at ball. Dress, equipage, and fur
nlture, are gorgeous beyond dcscrip-
ton or precedent But the most pain.
full result is that the most respectable
people cannot afford to establish their
children in life, and crimes ensue-
crimes that seem to have vitiated the
whole moral atmosphere and poisoned
all domestic relations. Families di-
minish as splendors augment. All
ranks have caught the infection. They
live for show, for luxury, for gaicty,
for appearance, and France seems fast
following the course of the old Roman
Empire. How inconceivably different,
but more happy, is the Western life of
our own country, where each child is a
fortune to the farmer, and the more of
them he has, the richer they become.
This is the natural state of society, the
result of industry and frugality.
1t is computed that not less than
$40, 100000 have been made by spec
ulations, and therefore lost by innocent
proprietors without equivalent, on the
Bourse, since Louis Napoleon has come
into power. 1t is thus, that the EN-
peror has feathercd not only his own
nest, but the nest Of all his adherents,
who were penniless when he came into
power. 1t is certain that those most
intimately connected with the great
secrets that affect the Bourse, all be-
come Immediately wealthy, but are dc.
termined to acquire only on condition
OF spending as profusely. This sets a
fashion that is running the most vital
prosperity of the whole country.
1t may not be amiss for us to learn
lessons from all this crime and folly,
and to begin betimes, before we are
too deeply inoculated with it. New
York has caught not little of the in.
lection, and Washington is getting
sadly corrupted. If it we're not for
the broad fields Of the West, and for
the wholesome domesticl life of the great
bulk of the people, cities like those
would go far to establish and illustrate
Jefferson's doctrine that great cities
are, after all, great sores.
Cities are certainly centres of infu.
ence, and the present state of France
too well exhibits that. The Court cor
rupts the whole country. One great