The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1890-11-14
TIE CENSUS 0E 1890 AND WHAT 1T
SHOWS.
Philadelphia Record.

Philadelphia Record
If the census of 1890 and Su1er-
Intendcd Porter's deductions from
the figures be correct the conclu-
sion is irresistible that this cOun-
| try has entered upon a stage Of de
cadence and decline. What older
nations have begun TO experience
after centuries of growth appears
to have ovortaken the United
States after a little more than a
century OF their existence as a
government. According to the
census returns and Mr.. Porter ;
own method Of calculating nation
al increase of population, the ex-
cess Of births over deaths IN the
United States during the last cen
sus period was IA per cent. Ap-
pIving the same method of calcu-
lation 10 the previous census, the
natural growth Of the country's
population between 1870 and 1880
was 2.2p per cent. This shows a de-
cline of 0 8 per cent, in the excess
of birth over deaths Ill period OF
profound peace, uninterrupted
prosperity and happy exemption
from epidemic disease.
At this rate of decline, aud upon
the argument of Superintendent
Porter, that the country has al
ready entered upon the stage of
slow growth which all civilized ma
tions experience, the next census
would disclose IA natural increase
of population not exceeding, in all
probability, l per cent. Upon
This basis the population of the
United States may be estimated at
6S,62S,0S0 in the census year oi
1890, with such addition accretior
AS foreign immigration might
make. As foreign immigration
| for many reasons would not be
| likely to exceed 100000 in the
next ten year., the total popula
ton Of the United States i'll 1906
would be about 72,680,000.
AT this slow rate of progress
whence are to come the inhabi
tants To cultivate the unoccupied
prairies aid to swell the ambitious
cities and towns of the great West
As the natural growth of the pep
ulation, according to Supennten
dent porter's figures, has declined
as low AS that of the old nations o.
the world, must the greatness o
the West be achieved by depict
ing the populous communities OI
the Easl Is he fate that has al
ready 0vertaken Vermont and
Maine to be experienced by New
| York aud Pennsylvania and other
populous Eastern States If the
census returns for 1890 and Super
intendent POrter's conclusions
be accurate, the inevitable
result of the present tendency OF
population must be either an arrest
of the rapid growth of the West or
an enormous drain upon the popu-
l0tlOn OF the East.
But the true answer to these
questions is that the census report
OF 1S90of not correct. There are
abundant reasons to conclude that
the census takers have failed to en-
umerate not less than 100000 OF
the inhabitants Of the United
States. In many portions of the
country this result has been due to
the careleSsness and ignorance of
partisan census agents, and in
many others TO a desire to autici-
pate the wishes OF their partisan
employers.
The result is a census Which will
have no value with stalislcIans
the world over, and which is
fraud when made the basis of the
apportionment Ot representatives
among the people. The remedy is
IN a careful recount of population
by the general government or by
the several States. II the general
government should not revise
Superintendent Porter's work,
recount by the States would at
least establish the important fact
that the normal rate of growth in
the population of this country has
not been checked.