Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-02-19
mforting. Tho Registration Reports

comforting. Tho Registration Reports
of births and deaths In Connecticut are so
imperfect that 1t Is very difficult after the
most careful analysis, to come to any
satisfactory results, especially to draw
line Of increase between the American
and foreign portions. The School Re
port Of Connecticut, for 1866, states "that
the relative number of children has been
steadily diminishing for the last forty
years." 1t is not likely that this iiminu-
ton arises from the foreign portion.
Some facts from the census of New
York for 1865 may throw light Upon this
subject. The method of taking this cen
s,ls was different from all others in this
respect; that is. it was taken by families
with particular reference TO the number OF
children. In answer to this inquiry put
to every woman, who was or had been
married (in all S42 ,562), how many child
rem she had had, whether absent, dead or
living,-there were ll5, ,252 women who
responded that they never had had n
child; l24.3l7, only one child; l23,3l9,
two, and 1924. three children. Here
we find All 772,--more than one half of
all the married women in the great State
of New York, who will average only one
child and seven-tenths, to each woman.
These figures include both the foreign
and American classes, but as the foreign
Composing full one third Of the popula-
ton, have generally the most children,
by far the largest proportion OF the fami-
lies here mentioned must be made up OF
the American portion. Now if the law,
settled by mortuary statistics, that two
lifths of all children born. die before
reaching adult life, is applied to these
facts, scarcely is one child here raised for
each woman,--that is, as far rs these
47l,775 married women in the great
State Of New York are concerned. IL
the same question was put to all the mar
ried women in Connecticut, is it pr0dd-
bic that the average number OF children
born TO every American women would
reach tour?n Is ii not more probable that
the average would be less than hree7-
DR.. Franklin Is. Hough, the compiler o'
the New York Census, states that he is
convinced that at the present time there
is no increase Of population among the
descendants Of the first settlers of that
State.
1t may be said by some that the princi-
pal causes or evils inducing this change
in population are necessary part of our
advancing civilization. and grow in the
very nature of things, out OF the present
artificial state of society that such IS
their origin, growth and necessity, no re-
form or Improvement can easily be made.
But these evils have been brought about
in great measure by human agency {;
principally by violation OF the great
laws Of life and health. Such evils have
never before been found part of the
civilization of any race or nation. neither
do they exist at the present day among
any other people upon the globe. IL is
less than two hundred and fifty years
since our Puritan ancestors settled here.
and nearly all these evils have sprung up
within fifty years. The English nation
has now been steadily advancing in pop
ulation, and all the elements of civiliza-
ton, for over a thousand years, and, not
withsianding the great emigration going
ON 10 its colonies, and the large drafts OF
young men made for military service,
that nation was never more popuious or
prosperous than ut the present time. lhc
ancient Greeks, without the gospel, the
greatest civilizing power ever known,
could flourish as people for over two
thousand years. Should changes in pop
ulation continue to take place here similar
to what have occurred in past years, how
long will il be before some of the princi-
pal cities, if not whole States in New
England, will become more or less under
the government and influence ofa foreign
class. like that which now rules the city
of New York; A longer career OF pros
perity, and a nober destiny than that of
England or Greece should await our New
England people.-CThe Congregational
ist, Feb. 4th.