, 1886-05-26
A ~siN-cuRseD COUNTRY.
Startling statistics showing the pcgra-
datfon of Lima, Peru

dation Of Lima. Pcru.
Senator CASTOR. the chief of the bu-
reau of m%erchantilc statistics in Lima,
Peru. has prepared a sensational docu-
ment. the points of which Consul Brunt
has sent To the state department. He
SAYS;
There are only 100, GOA population in
Lima: 81 per cent. of these are minors.
a per cent. single and widowed, 10 per
cent. married. Statistics show that 40
per cent. of the births in 1884 were the
fruit of wedlock, and 81 per cent illegit-
innate. 1t is, therefore. more than evil
lent that over two-thirds of the popula-
ton of Lima live in a state of concubin
age or something of that character,
rather than in legal or family ties. In n
word, of the 100, 900 people in Lima, but
little morc than une-third live in family
ties.
There are 33,914 persons under age,
3i.15g females. and only 30,0s3 active
producers, 50 that every able-bodied man
has to support more than three persons.
The cost of food. clothes, etc, may be
reckoncd at S15.02 per head per month.
Each man able to work should earn
$500 per month. This amount is only
obtained by the most limited number.
A condition Of the most abject poverty
prevails, which shortens the life of the
people. The consuming class is con-
stantly increasing, and every man forced
to shoulder the musket is n new burden
laid ON the shoulders of the producers.
1t Is, therefore, shown that the population
of Lima does not rest, as it should, on a
family basis, and that from d lack Of la-
Dor power and excess Of unmar-
ried females there is wanting
that great producing element which
is u principal factor in we'll
established communities. The result Of
all this is Il never-ending struggle be
tween nm educated minority and the pow
erful resistance of Ignorant masses, who,
almost irresponsible for their acts, enter
tain II deep-seated prejudice for those
they hold to be their oppressors. These
are a suspicious, selfish mass. refusing
all efforts toward their own self-regener-
alton, without habits of order, unable to
respect laws of which they are ignorant,
living in intellectual darkness, and gen
orally in moral depravity, their existence
passes by without n thought being given
to their advancement, their preservation
as "A race or their hereafter.
When it comes to pursuits, 81, 0JG are
without any. even among those mar
ried not one-fifth of the offspring survive
the first years existence. and the reason
assigned is that the parents can not pro
vide them with the proper nourishment.
Even more lamentable is the fate of
those numerous unmarried women whose
children never know their fathers. For
them there is no employment, no protcc-
ton. no support. When their children
live they grow up weddings owing &c
the privaiions they undergo, and they
generally end their days in a hospital.
And this condition is due 10 the indiifer-
ence Of II government and 70 our "
character Premiums are given to use
less and unsubstantial objects. while tai
ent and honorable labor 20 unrewarded.
Immense sums are subscribed TO build
sumptuous temples side by side with the
novels where the poor die in want aud
misery. Hundreds of people exist in
deep and narrow unhealthy dwellings.
while in the main street of the city are
extensive converts and monasteries, COW
ering acres of ground and afrording shell
ter to d handful of useless and idle monks
me nuns. On his account there are
more churches and converts than mu-
nicipal-schools, more children and women
than men, more soldiers and Chinese
than active citizens, more beggars than
laborers, more priests than men Of sci
encc, more illegitimate than Legitimate
children. more ignorance than enlight-
eminent, more corruption than morality,
more g%unpowder than bread. From this
Indifference the little good among us is
gradually disappearing. 1t lacks sup
port and appreciation. 1t is, therefore,
necessary in our own interest and in that
of our descendants to change this vicious
order of things, to reform these dreadful
abuses, to punish these ~oiIenses with Sc
verify and to afford instruction, protec-
ton and support to those women and
children SO dcplorably unfortunate in
their present state.-St. Louis Globe
Democrat.