Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-11-17
FOR THE SPECTATOR ,
The Malthusian Doctrine.

ssThe Maltnusian doctrine, that there is q MT
ssural tendency, to an increase of population in
sseVery country which the productions of the
ssearth cannot support, is true, ,'-Spectator, Oc-
tober 9th.
Mr.. EDITOR My object is to induce inquiry
Ito elicit truth-to educate the masses, and es
pecially, in order to the last, to draw from the
Political Economist of the Spectator, a state
ment and defence, in his own lucid style, of the
Malthusian doctrine of population.
The Malthasian doctrine-is it true 2 Imme
diately after the Creation of man, God sal un--
to them, ssBe fruitful and multiply, and replen-
ish the EARTH" And you, be ye fruitful, and
multiply bring forth abundantly in the earth,
and multiply therein These are plain state
ments of Gods will, and, if possible, they gain
force, by being reiterated. Now. are we to be-
lieve, the effect of mans obedience to his all
wise and infinitely good Creators will, is evil
misery and wretchedness the most dreadful p
Has his obedience sure tendency to slavery
and certain termination in starvation ? Of a
truth, that is a odismaI Science'' which makes
the Ruler of the Universe terrible fend, who
delights in the torture of his own Creatures.
1t may be said, the bible is not intended to
teach Political Economy, and therefore, any at
tempt to draw from this source the truths of
Political Science is improper and will end in
failure. It is admitted. But the truths of sci
ence, and the truths of.the Bible must be con-
sonant. They are truths of the Bible must be
consonant. They are parts of harmonius whole.
There be no discord. If the differences of Po-
iltlcal Science, and the truths of the Bible dis
agree, If they jar and clash, then may we not
rest assured thatoour inferences ara untrue?
We shall see that the teachings of the one are in
direct and open canficJ with the other. The
elder Mill s tates the doctrine thus:
ssHoW slow Soever the increase of population
provided that of capital is still slower, wages
will be reduced SO low, that portion of the
population will regularly die of want. Neither
can this dreadful consequence be averted other
wise, than by the use of means to prevent the
increase of capital from falling short of that of
population And he finally arrives at the con-
cluslon that sthnman happiness cannot be secur-
ed by taking forcible methods to make capital
grand practical problem is, to find the means of
limiting the number of Births"
ssLimit the number of births'' says Political
Economy, stBe fruitful, multiply, replenish the
earth, bring forth abundantly'' says the Bible.
Political Economy would have us believe that
the increase OF the human family was curse,
rather than blessing. In the Bible it is rep
resented as a blessing mark of the highest
and is connected with images of plen-
ty. .sLo, children are heritage of the Lord,
and the fruit of the womb is his reward AS ar
rows are in the hand of mighty man; so are
children of the youth; happy is the man that
hath his quiver full of them." sFor will have
respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and
multiply you, and establish my covenant with
you, and ye shall eat old store and bring forth
the old because of the new" Are not these con-
siderations sufficient to make US inquire Of the
Malthusian doctrine lis it true z
W.,
Mt. Sidney, Va.