The Portland daily press., 1888-10-18
Real and Apparent Social CHANCES.

The rapid immigration Of foreigners ana
the large families which theyspring Win
them or possess themselves OF alter arriving
in this country have afforded problem for
much discussion and speculation. Some
have thought that the face of society, espec-
tally in New England, was to be wholly
changed, and that new race recruited from
the large and fiourishing families of foreign
born citizens. would take the place of the
dwindling families of those whose ancestors
first settled the country. There has been
much to encourage such speculations, not
only as revealed by common observation,
but as shown by the more accurate statistics
of the census. The census has shown in
Maine. for instance that in 1850 the average
size of the native family was 564:
in 1860, $40; in 1870, 478; and in 1880
only 458. Common observation, on the
other hand, has seemed to show that
the families of the foreign born are
averaging much larger in number: whence
the inference that it is only matter
OF time when New England society will be
completely changed. Such differences have
not been peculiar to New England alone In
Canada where the people of French descent
are In continual rivalry with their neighbors
OF British birth the question of race FREEDOM
nance has been much discussed and studied.
The French families Of Quebec are generally
much larger than the British families Of
Ontario and the Maritime Provinces
Hence has arisen in the Dominion popular
belief that the French are destined in time
to possess themselves of all Canada Many
Of the French themselves have been capti-
waited with this idea, which has been her
aided both by their orators and their news
papers. One French Canadian newspaper,
indeed, not long ago served notice on New
England that in time the valleys of Maine
and Vermont would be wanted and taken by
this earth-populating and earth-possessing
race, who would in their new conquest
speak the French language and worship
according to the rites of the Roman Catholic
religion. Professor Goodwin Smith, who has
been investigating the race problem in Can
ada was so impressed with the apparent
vigor of the French Canadians of Quebec
that he recommended annexation as the best
means Of restoring the balance of race and
religion in Canada. But the Toronto Globe
before sharing the general alarm, has been ex-
aiming the facts of the situation. Its con-
clusious are such as were indicated not long
ago by the report of vital statistics in-the
city of Lewiston in this State; viz. that
large numbers of births did not necessarily
indicate permanent increase of population.
In Lewiston of the children in the largest
foreign families. astonishingly few reached
manhood and womanhood. The Toronto
Globe finds in the broader and better field of
observation in Canada that while in Quebec
there are more children under eleven years
of age in proportion to population than in
Ontario, there are less between the ages of
eleven and twenty; so that the advantage
Of greater birth rate among the Canadians
of Quebec is offset by the greater death rate
among the young. And this is a fact that
should be taken into account in all specula-
tions as to social changes whether in Canada
or New England.