, 1873-06-15
THE DOCTRINE or mALTHus.


To the Editor qf I7s' Chicago Tribune =:
sB: In THE Ta1nuxE Of the I'd inst you favor
MS with an interesting and suggestive editorial
essay on Population, which is, practically,
OF equal value with the many speculahons We
see concerning the termination, at some indefinite
time, OF all terrestrial 1ife.: -
The law Of modification, which is SO unerring-
II traced in the physical conditions OF sublunary
existence, points as inteligib1y to the future as
the past. The mysterious prophecies Of future
dissolution, that issue from the cayerns Of the
deep, tha assures Of the EARTH the pestilences of
the air, aud the celestial phenomena OF the skies,
are in wonderful sympathy with our instructive
forebodings of future annihilation. Nor are
they the less solemn and impressive because
they are in harmony with the warnings that
claim . Divine inspiration through the Bible.
In short, every faculty of humanity is nb-
sorbed in the dreadful convection that
death is sooner or later Inevitable. But
shall we cease to build cities and habitations
upon the plains. because the geo1ogist tells Us
they shall be overwhelmed by q future convul-
sion Of the earth, or snbmersion Of the ocean
Shall We refrain from breathing, because: the
astronomer predicts period to come when the
lne-sustaining elements OF the air shall undergo
fatal change through celestial notifications
And, finally, shall we rebel against another in
stnct, becanee Nautilus tells us Of future
limit to population? Practically, then; the
Malthusian doctrine in no more significant than
that freside theory Of the kind old maid, who
as abe INDUCED in it, wept over the imaginary
death Of m imaginary offspring.
There ara not wanting men who, in all ages,
have st1iYen to make sensation Of some kind !;
and it is, unfortunately, too often the case that
they have bean the most successful when they
fearB Of mankind. Facts and figures are so in
geniously interviewer with their theories that,
like the doctrine OF " Protection to American
industry" they make most imposing and de-
ceptiye fabric, which the celebrated point Of
't1thnriels spear il not always able to rand And
down to us,-more Interesting from its novelty
and nature: than its utility and truth. Let us
SEQ what, II any, sense thero Is in 1t:
=. His proposition is, that Oyer-population is
IN evl;" and his whole Argument goes to en-
force moral restraint" ~ it's only admissible
remedy. That the proposition is true, has noyor
yet been demonstrated by its author or its
friends. Nor is it to be accepted as. a funda-
mental Law Of economic science, because Of its
dogmatic assertion on the one hand, or that, on
the other, it has been feebly opposed: The st.
tistics to establish the one or to confirm the
other, are equally wanting. None Of the
figures and illustrations upon which the propo-
Bition rests are concluEivo and satisfactory to q
reasoning mind. But, on the contrary, il the
common instincts and conclusions OF the world
have any force, beaide the repeated and en-
phatic encouragement OF Divine authority to
"increass and multiply that force is directly
against the proposition. Every Legislative act in
the history Of the world has been friendly
t,o to The oEh 9f oE Raa1n ana rs hse de-
aimed, directly or Indirectly, against it as an evil
Can the instincts and experiences OF all the
world be deIuaive, and only Nautilus prophet?
But, il an overgrowth Of population be an evil,
it follows that scarcity, or none at all, must be
= blessing, "a conclusion, like the proposition,
equally Embarrassing to disprove, but, in tho
mind Of common sense, equally absurd and ira
tional. We shall be told, however, that mean
exists, which, i it can be secured, will insure
millennium, only to be disturbed by those con-
speot the astci law ' Of nna moral Ire restraint" oi
When that happy equilibrium ehall have been
reached, through other than natural influences
we ehall, without doubt, SEQ Sc The lion and the
lamb Lie down togsther, and little child lead
them"
Now, as for the argument, what reception can
it obtain but one of Indignation and contempt :?
Talk about "moral restraint" as power to
check population, This is no place Tor face
tiousness, nor Ein the gza,,ty Of the subject
pleasantly dismissed. Aside from it's pueril-
ity, his argument merits attention
On account Of its serious tenden-
destroy tbs happiness, IL not the sanctity and
usefulness, Of marriage; and Its direct conse-
quences are polygamy, concubinage, and pronais-
cuo1ls commerce OF the se1ee,-resultlnB, OF
courre. in check to population. The idea OF
an abnormous condition Of society, of which it
is itself the cause, may be monklsh, but it ID
certainly not q worldly, one. We might pursue
this moral restraint" remedy to consequences
:..:ll more criminal and debasing, including, as
the least Of them, those practices already too
tho women Of the day, who, porhaps, have as
vivid and correct An idea OF 'moral restraint "
hs any human beings can be expected to receive
from the religious and moral teachings Of the
hour.
We are told in Holy Writ that "of little chill
dren such is the Kingdom Of Heaven" Surely
the ssmoral restraint" that would diminish that
nanotion!
itual desire to save the soul, rather
than the body, it was p1actised BY those
monhsh communities which existed IN
large numbers at an early period OF Christian
history. The revolving crimes that ensued form
. record familiar to the classical student, and
Of our theme.
Those who, like Mill, write 50 gib1y In favor
OF restraining orer-population BY moral power,
do, possibly, combine the two essential elements
Of character described by the poet: = Though
think as q sage. feel as man" Perhaps so.
but tbs doubtful.
It is not improbable TINT, in some ono Of the
extraordinary phases OF life, such = man may
sttempt to force his convictions OF moral re-
atraint upon = community under his sway /;
h>,k. 1oa% nrkv RAT
essarily be called to his aid. But it is equally
probable that the present progressive movement
in favor Of woman will have triumphed about
the sane period; and man has every reason to
hope, from the memorable precedent furniahed
Us BY Gibbon, In his !" Decline and Fall OF the
Roman EMPIRE" that hor voice will again ef=
fectual1y prevent 30 extreme measure.
CHARLES WHITAKER.
JUNE.
"Give mo month, /" said the GUNNER,
Demanding OF Nature boon,
- That shall mako sur1y Winter forgotten,
And be with all sweet thtngs in tune.