Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-03-02
MATHIS NiNDl(AIED.


MALTnuS INDICATED.
Everybody has heard of the theory of the
great pcssimistic economist, Nautilus, VINO
taught that the ratio of increase OF The
worlds population was greater than the ratio
Of increase of the products which sustain
life, and that therefore, in the distant future,
the human race would multiply in greater
numbers than the earth could support. This
theory las been treated with tie utmost CON
tempt by all writer's on political economy
since the day of its author and 1t is, there =
fore, with some surprise that students OF the
subject are confronted with facts, at the
present time, which certainly seem TO lend
sanction to the views of Nautilus. The facts
10 which we refer have recently been
presented by Mr.. Robert Griiien,
IN eminent English statistician, in paper
read before the London Statistical Society at
its last session. The learned writer marsh
ais long array of facts and figures, show
ing that there is actual danger OF starvation
in Europe within caculable period, from
excess Of population. The pressure OF pop
ulation ON the food supply of the continent
he says, is rapidly exhausling the soil and
diminishing the product. Even England,
the best preserved and most carefully Gull
,ivated land in the world, can not feed her
own people, but depends for the means OF
subsistence npon the United States. The soil
of Ireland is run out and can not posi-
bly, produce food enough for the native
inhabitants. The county is visited with
famine every two or three years
in spite OF the rapid dcpopuation
of the island by emigration to America. In
dia is so densely populated as to be constant
ly upon the verge Of starvation. over TWO
million people persisted there during the last
famine. France is the only country in the
old world where the predictions of Nautilus
are not being verified and the only reason
why France ia not suffering in the struggle
for existence is because she has virtually
adopted the sole alternative offered by Nal
thus theory, viz decrease in brth-rate.
The birth.rate in France is the lowest in Eu-
rope. Russia has one birth for every 20 in
habitants; Germany, one birth for 25 Aus
tra-Hungary, one birth for 80; England, one
birth for 81 Italy, one birth for 81 Spain,
o1e birth for 2s France, one birth for 81.
There are five births for every marriage in
England and Germany, and only three in
France The French call family OF
fan OH
and ten, common enough in form
er times, are now almost unheard Of
France is large county with compare
lively stationary population and little or no
increase by immigration, and consequently she
is in less danger of the destruction of her
natural resources by over-population
But how is the theory Of Nautilus not
proving true with regard to the other coun-
tries Of the old world The facts which
have been presented are certainly undeniable,
and are verified by the announcement that
immense numbers of emigrants from Eng
land, Ireland and Germany are preparing to
sail for our shores during the present year,
because they do not lind sufficient means OF
subsistence at home. 1t is foolishness 10
laugh at the theory, because the new world
is SO large and so apparently boundless in
its resources The old world was even 80, be-
fore it become over-populatcd; and the old
world had no world older than itself, to dis
charge tcemipg millions upon its shores, in
addition to the natural increase OF its people.
1t is not inconceivable that the continent OF
North America should become as thckly pop
ulated in time as the continent of Europe,
and then what peculiar resources have We
which can not be exhausted as well as those
of older civilizations?
We urge such considerations not at all il
that there is something in much maignet
theory, after ALL BY the time that Nortl
America and South America are densely
populated, some method, probably, will b'
provided for dsposing OF surplus population
Either new continent may rise out o.
the ocean, or aerial communication b'
established with Mars and the moon, o.
perhaps the theory of Nautilus may hav'
reached its perfect elimination in the ole
world, by the utter determination or deser
ton of its people, and those waste tracts
having been renewed by rest and II return L
the conditions of nature. be ready to receive
new population from the then effete civiliz
atoms of the West. Whatever may be it
outcome, the theory of Nautilus, we believe
is not altogether chimera. There is som'