The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-08-31
From the Chicago Tribune.l
"Pre.NataI H0micida.N

Archbishop Lynch, the Roman Catholic Pre-.
late of Toronto, has done very timely and ex-
cellent thing in publicly denounciug the abom-
Unable crime of prenatal homicide but he has
done very foolish and unwise thing In max
ing particular application of his denuncia-
ton. Says Archbishop Lynch: In the New
England States, an ungodly people are exter-
minating themselves from the face of the
earth, and chaste and Goi-fearing people are
succeeding to their inheritance" BY "ungod-
ly" people, the Archbishop, Of course, means
the descendants of the Paritans, and by "a
chaste and God-fearing" people, the Roman
Catholics. In instituting this contrast, how
ever, he has overthrown his own srgument, be-
cause, if his proposition be true in one place or
time, it must be true in all places and times,
and the facts show it not. If, for instance,
bis proposition is true so far as some portions
of New England is concerned, then it should be
true so far as France is concerned. But is it?
Let us see.
France is the first convert and eldest daugh
Ter of the Church of Rome, the chief supporter
of the Vatican and all its dogmas, the main
stay OF Ultranontanism in Europe, and with
out its sympathy and material support every
yestge OF connection between church and state
would be wiped out. France, therefore, from
v
lief, is natl Ill of godly people, and yet the
crime OF pre- natal homicide is carried on there
to degree unknown in any country of the civ
ized world, and has become so frequent and
SO much matter of fashion that 1t has been
reduced to an actual system. This crime has
been charged TO exist in Great Britain to a
large extent, and yet the population of Protest.
ant Great Britain increases four or five hund-
red thousand every year. That is, the births
exceed the deaths that many. How much
| universal mr. tha ho in
where the census of the last five years shows
that the population is not only stationary, but
is actually falling off at the rate of 100000 per
year!
Returning to New England, it is uudonbted.
" true that the population is checked to GER
tain extent by prenatal homicide, and that is
true everywhere. The families of New Eng
land are smaller and less numerous than they
USED 10 De, but other causes must be held re-
sponslble besides pre- natal homicide or lack of
religious character. The women of New EGG
iana are not as strong, hearty, and robust as
tnelr mothers and grandmothers were. Seden-
tary lie and want of outdoor sunshine and ex-
erclse nave to large extent destroyed the ca
pacity Oh New England women to produce and
rear large families of children as their fore
mothers, who were strong, hearty, outdoor
workers. This is the tendency of life when de-
Voted 10 refinement and ease. As fast as any
people increase in wealth, culture and retne-
ment, it quits physical exercise to greater or
less degree, and deteriorates in its physique and
the number of children decreases In Great
Britain, where there is an abundance OF wealth
aud refinement, and leisure, an exception may
be found. There children increase and large
families abound among the wealthy; but the
men and women OF that country may literally
be said to live out of doors. They are famous
the world over for taking exercises, regardless
of wind or weather. The English women are
out of doors on every possible occasion, walk
ing, riding horseback, working in gardens and
making tours on the continent or in the High
lands. AS result of this, the noble families,
beginning with the Royal family, are very
large. If the women of New England would
change their present fashion Of life, and like
the women OF Old England, take plenty of out
door exercise, and increase their physical
strength instead of wasting it in Incidence and
indoors, the New England families would in
crease proportionately. And this rule applies
with equal truth and force alike to godly and
ungodly people.
enid bearing is not matter Of religion, but
purely dependent upon physical stamina
and strength of constitution. When tine
"chaste and God-fearing' Roman Catholics
take the place of the present "uDgodly Puri-
tan stock in New England, If they, like the
Erencn, fail to take physical exercise and iead
a life of elegant incidence, then they viii have
small families and population win decrease