Smyrna times., 1897-03-03
The Peril of France.

To say that France, not merely the
Republic, but France itself, people,
civilization and genius, is in danger is
not to exaggerate the case. OF that
fact no one has keener realization than
Frenchmen themselves, or those
Frenchmen who pay attention to the
subject Depopulation, that is the
enemy. 1t is not a new one. 1t has
confronted the nation for many wears.
At each recurring census its menaces
have become more direct and immedi-
ate. According to the latest census.
just taken, says NJ. Bertillon, the ac-
cOmplished head of the Paris Munici
pal Bureau of Statistics, the result is
appalling; so ominous that unless a
wellnigh miraculous change for the
better shall speedily occur, France
will be in instant peril ofbeing over
whelmed by the sheer physical prepon-
derance of her neighbors. 1t is not
that she is declining, but that she is
standing still while they are rapidly
growing.
What are the facts? In three years
the population of France has in
creased by only 175,O27. In the same
time that of Germany has increased by
5000, 900, and that of Great Britain bv
still more. 1t ls not that there have
been so many deaths. The yearly
death rate of France is only about 21
per 1,O00-one of the lowest in the
world. 1t is not that emigration is too
great. There are fewer emigrants
from France than from most other
European countries. 1t is simply that
the birth rate is too low. The Divine
injunction to marry increase and multi
ply is not Obeyed. Why, students of
social economy may determine for
themselves. They will do well to look.
first of all, at the land laws of France
and see if the fault does not lie there.
For 1t Is significant that the increase
OF population, slight as it is, is practi-
cally confined to the great cities. Else
where the population is actually de-
creasing. OF the increase of 175. OPT
more than One-half, say 8S, 900. must be
credited to Paris alone. There are 81
Departments. In 1886 an increase of
population was reported in So and a
decrease in 90; in 1891, increase in 80
and decrease i'll 55, and in 1896, in
crease in only "a and decrease in SO.
Every one knows what increase in
cities and decrease in rural districts
mean.
AS compared with Germany, the stu
alton is startling. In 1841 the two
countries were about equal in popula-
tion. Now Germany outnumbers
France by $4,000. 900, and the disparity
IS increasing yearly. Again, in 1878,
the number of young men available for
military service was about the same in
both. This year Germany has 45O, 900
conscript and France only $50, 900. In
seven years there have been twice as
many births in Germany as in France.
That inevitably means that fourteen
years hence there will be in Germany
twice as many available conscripts as
IN France. What will that mean? The
answer need not be uttered. Two to
one make wellnigh hopeless odds.
Nor can it be claimed that the fewer
children of French parents are ofbetter
quality than the many of the Germans.
The contrary is the case. The child is
petted and pampered, while the half
dozen grow up more robust and self
reliant.
The matter is one of more than nat
lonal concern The interest of the
world is involved. 1t would be a blow
to the balance of power in Europe, as
well as to the sensibilities of the ma
tions, for Germany to fulfill the threat
of crushing France by sheer super
lority of numbers, and to take pos
session of her fertile fields for the
overcrowded population ofthe Teutonic
States to settle upon. But more than
that, it would be an irreparable loss to
civilization, to humanity, to have the
French race thus overwhelmed and
crushed down to a subordinate and
subject place.-N. Y. Tribune.