Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-09-12
CHILDREN IN FRANCE.
The European Republic Alarmed by
1ts Dccliuing Birth Rate.

A very remarkable campaign has
been started in France, the object being
to increase the population. The organ. |!
izers are Dr. Jacques Bertlllon, chief
Of the bureau Of statistics, Of,raris;, NJ. !
Charles Richet. professor Of the faculty
Of medicine In the same city, and DR..
laval, member Of the Academy Of
Medicine. For years these men have
noticed with regret that the population
Of France was not Increasing proper.
tionately with the population Of other
countries. and now they come forward
with what they believe to he an ipfalli-
bic remedy for this evil.
That some drastic remedy IL needed
they insist. as otherwise France must
soon sink to the rank Of eecond-rate,
or even a thirl.ratc. nation. A hun.
dred years ago the great countries--in
other words, the great powers Of En-
rope-containcd 0S,OOO.OOO inha bitants.
Of whom 26OOO,OOO. or q per cent, were
residents Of Frnnce. To-day these same
countries contain 3OO.OOO,OOO inhabi-
tants, Of whom 3S.OOO.OOO, or only ~
per cent. live In France. These figures
speak for themselves. and the obvious
conclusion. according to DIR. Bertillon
and his colleagues. Is that II the births
continue TO decrease Mt the same omin.
Gus rate. Frnnce. which was once one
Of the most powerful countries in Eu.
rope. will soon Ike one Of the weakest.
These gentlemen have begun their
novel campaign by founding society,
which Is styled '"rhe National Alliance
for the Relief Of the French Population"
The defensive measures which they
propose to adopt IRE numerous, but for
the immediate present they will confine
their attention to three points. I. They
will try to get the laws relating to In.
heritance greatly modified; 2, they will
try to get all direct taxes removed from
| those families which have more than
three children; and. 3, they will try to
have the laws relating to succession
duties thoroughly reformed. As It Is
manifest tint the nations treasury
would be seriously affected by the re.
moval Of taxes In the case Of oil fan,i-
lies which have more than three chill.
dren, Il 10 proposed to place tax Of
one.ffth Of per cent. on all families
which arc childlcss or have only ono or
two children.
There are said to be excellent rca-
sons for these proposed reforms. The
larger mans family In France. we are
told, the more he II taxed, both directly
and indirectly, the result being that
thrifty parents do not care to have
many children. Moreover. the parents
property must be divided among the
children. and II the children are num-
crous and the property small, the disas-
trous results can easily be fOrcseen. In
other countries the law Of entail II
maintained pretty rigidly and though
Its operation seems hardly equitable or
natural as regards younger children. II
certainly seems to act In some degrees
AZ a preventive Of depopulaitOn.
Remove all burtlens0me taxes from
fruitful families" say the members OF
the National Alliance. ''and let French
women and Frenchmen know that.
even from q monetary point Of view.
It will be fortunate for them to have
many children. Then, a. the national
treasury must he supported, let NJ tax
those parents who have few or no chill.
dren. Parents who have no childreQor
only one or two children may reagpnL
ably be required to contribute goodlS
quota toward the support Of the safe.
whereas II II improper and unjust to
expect any support from those parents
who have to provide for numerous
| children. Do this, and France will
soon become, a. she was In the past,
one Of the greatest powers In Europe;
| fall to do this and France will soon
sink to the level Of Denmark, Belgium
or Holland"
The members of the alliance intend
to hold several public meetings and-tO
publish several pamphlets setting forth
their views. They offer membership to
all who care to assist them, Irrespective
Of creed or political opinions. Many
persons throughout France have al.
ready announced their adhesion to. the
program Of the alliance. ana It IL con.
fidently expected that In the near IN.
ture the necessary bills In regard to
succession duties and the abolition Of
Nxe8 Will W pScDcuscu W suc y sc"Su
Legislature. What the result will be
can not be f0retold, but DR.. Bertillon
and his colleagues arc confident that
their appeal to French patriotism will
not DO In vain.
Others, however. who know nothing
about statistics, but who profess to
know q good deal about human nature,
maintain that this crusdae will pro.
duce little result for tho reason that the
opposing forces are not mainly econ
Omical, but are the result Of Old.time
habits and ways Of thinking. against
which 1t will be impossible to success.
fully combat. Taxes and succession
duties, say these critics, have nothing
to do with the question. French fam,
lilies are small. because such has long
been the custom In France, and this
custom no laws or regulations can do
away with. They point out many NOR
al and other reasons for this custom,
on which 1t Is not necessary here to lay
stress. One ingenious critic maintains
that French women become 20 intoxi-
Gated with love and admiration for the
first child that they never care to have
any more. He writes with some bitter
ness on the subject, and even goes so
far as to say that French woman, as
soon as she becomes mother, gradual
~ loses her love for her husband, and