The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-09
Il DECREASING PEOPLE.

The normal tendency of the population of
all civilized countries is to increase in time
of peace; but the rule is not nyariable. Just
nOw the population Of France is decreasing,
the death rate being larger in the thousands
than the birth rate. This has generally
been the case in 43 OF the 81 departments
it is now the case in nearly all of them.
Hence. though there is practically no emil
grafton from France, the population is either
stationary or declining.
Thirty years ago, when the population of
the United States was 81 ,000, 900, that of
France was 81, 100000. The annexation OF
Alsace and Lorraine to Germany and the
losses during the war reduced this figure
In 1876 France contained less than 81, 0Q0 600
sOulS. In the succeeding five years there
was an increase Of about 100000 souls, and
in the five years ending 1886 n further in
crease of about SOC, 900; then the movement
STOPPED. The returns of 1890 showed a
small decrease. leaving the present pOpula-
ton ct about IS. 100000
In the year 1890 the deaths were SIC, sos,
and the births only 638, 059. AS compared
with the previous year the births show
decrease of percent and the births an in
crease OF 10 per cent As France is a healthy
country and there has been no pestilence
and medical science has reached its highest
development in the French cities, this must
be regarded as very remarkable phenom-
enon. In attempting to account for it the
attention is at once drawn to the statistics
Of marriages. Births have a wel-known
ratio to marriages, and in both sexes the
married live longer than the celibate. In
1890 the number of marriages celebrated in
France was 269, 332. as against o., 934 in 1889
and ~ In faa+
marriage rate has been steadily though
slightly diminishing. This is ascGibed. first,
to the obstacles which the French law
throws in the way of marriages, and next.
to the withdrawal of an excessive proper
ton Of men Of manageable age for service
in the army and navy. Speaking roughly,
half million men, who, under ordinary cir
cumstances, would be marrying and becom-
ing fathers of families, are disabled from
entering the marriage state by obligatory
service in the army. If the foreign relations
Of France allowed the dSbandment of the
army the marriage rate would increase and
the population would probably swell, as it
does in other European countries.
Another curious fact which the new
French census reveals is the progressive
increase of divorces. When the present
divorce law was enacted about 1000 couples
availed themselves of its provisions in a
twelvemonth. In 1889 there were 1913 d.
vorces. in 1890 5457. 1t thus appears that
not only is there steady decrease in the
number of marriages contracted, but there
is steady increase in the number of mar
Tiages dissolved. When the Naquet law
vas before the Chamber number of per-
SONS awaited its enactment to apply for a
decree of divorce, and thus, in 1885,, which
was the first year in which il was put into
operation. 4277 couples awaited themselves
OF its provisions. In the following year the
number declined to $780, and in the year
after that, 1887, it was only 1851. Ever
since then it has been steadily Oh the in
crease. The popularity of divorce cannot
be connected with the army; there cannot
be divorces without marriages. The cause
Of the phenomenon must be sought else
where.
La grippe IS charged with the Increase of
deaths in 1890. 1t probably had something to
do with it, But il does not appear from the
statistics to hand that there has been any
increase in the death rate in Germany or
England, where the disease was as preva-
lent as it was in France.