Weekly Trinity journal., 1869-03-06
Changes in PopulationAWhy tho Ameri
, r-- p can Race is Dying Out. ,t.-

Harpers Magazine for February contains ar
interesting article on the" Changes of Popula
ton, " and small number of children born o
American parents, as compared to numbers borI
to the same class one hundred, fifty, or ever
twenty-five years ago. 1t appears that while
the birth in European countries, and among
the foreign population in America, is one te
thirty inhabitants, in the United States, among
the strictly American race, it is only one in fj7y
After conclusiyely showing that the American
population has not increased for number o.
years, the writer proceedes to give the causes o.
this gradual dying out of the race: 3a.i-.
y 1t Is rare that an American family car
now be found any where having ten children.
n Indeed, is 1t not a prevalent fact at the pres
ent day-and that not with the fashionable only
but also among the most intelligent and cult.
waited, and even among the religions classes
that where there is large family of children
reflections arise at once, and remarks are made
calling in question the refinement, the delicacy
and good breeding, if not the good-manners, oi
the parents Of such a family.
While the number of, marriages has,
relatively for the same population, Slightly dim
inshed during the last twenty or thirty years
still the marriage-rate has fallen off so little and
even now is so little below that of most Euro
pean nations and their Representatives in this
country, that the difference from this source
could not be very material or appreciable. But
connected with this institution there is one
cause which may affect somewhat the increase
of population, namely, postponng marriage till
a later age. 1t has been found by series OF
statistics that the period from twenty to thirty
years of age is far more prolific than that from
thirty to forty; and on account of the increased
expenses of supporting family, together with a
prevalent desire to live in certain style, there
is growing tendency with large numbers to put
off marriage till later period in life than form
ery. \ X 4 In communities where the for.
eign classis found living side by side with the
American, a surprising difference is witnessed
between the two classes in the number of chill
dren or size of families. 1t is found that the
former class average for the same number o
marriages two or three times as many children
as the latter. a
=, y There are other causes at work, more
general more ,potent and more serious.
Wealth and fashion have become toe
generally the great standards aimed at in life
The plain and simple manner in living, with
frugal and industrious habits and slow accumn
lations once practiced, have given way to
more extraragant, luxurious, and stimulating
course of life, and an eager struggle for rapid
gains. Young men must commence life
where their fathers left off. While men have
been, as it were, wholly absorbed in making
money. women have become altogether toe
much immersed in the persuits of mere pleasur,
and fashion. Nothing must stand in the way O
these objects. Among large classes society ha
become very artificial and intensely selfish, al
lowing many vices and evils to creep into gen
eral practice. Under these circumstances chill
6a1
den, and an expense which it is thought must
at least to some extent, be dispensed with. !
The dislike o. being confined TO the dry routn
of certain family duties and responsibilities, tn
shrinking from public exposure and gossip oil
account Of some domestic ochange-al! thes
! have their influence. In fact, has it not com
to this THAT in some circles the mere idea of in
crease of family is unpopular, Questionable, j
not odous2sg* " = The laws oof life an,
health are set. at defiance, and worse expedient
are resorted to, in order to effect certain ends
| than were ever countenanced by the doctrines o
Malthus. 1t should be stated that be
levers in the Roman Catholic faith never resor
to auy such practices; the strictly American
are almost alone guilty of this great crime. =
81 There is another agency which has most nm
favorable infnence in this direction, that is, th
increased use of stimulants and narcotics. Thi
NAV consist m the use of -spirituous liquors an
tobacco, or in strong tea and coffee. 1t nigh
be shown how all these iDjuce not only the gen
eral health, but according to the laws of physi
ology, how they peryert or destroy the .natura
wholesome functions of distinct organs of th
body Any agent that impairs the health an
cons stitution, or tends to develop unnaturaiIy o
excessively certain parts of the system, inter
4 ksres with the laws of increase. 'sse- ioIsi-s
4 There are not only agencies in society exercis
II ing powerful influence in this matter; but ther
are great changes and fixed laws in the huma
system itself which have still more powerfo
effect. In discussing the changes of populatio
these causes have not always been properly con
1 sidered. The conditions of the natural, health
increase Of people are SO numerous and com
liulicated that it is difficult to give each one Il
4 proper place; but those pertaining directly 3
The body would seem to be most important an
Indispensable Good health is one Of tbese. !
I-is we'll known that within fifty years, ana eve
within half that time, there has been q great IA
cline in the health of American women. ~ 2
This i'll health operates, in variey Of vays. /
preyent an increase of offspring, especially VIE
The peculiar kinds of disease and weakness j
woman are considered. But, ia order 10 o6tai
a more correct and inteiiigible undsrsti ndine {
j ,ho matter IL becomes necessary IN icveet;0at