Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1897-06-11
A FRENCHMAN'S VIEW,
His Opinion Of tho Depopulation Of Hi

Country.
The population of France Is now
definitely known, and, as was to be ex-
nected, the increase since the last CEN
sus Is insignificant compared with that
of neighboring countries, says Scalpel.
Is this a sign of weakness? Does IT
mean decadence? We will endeavor to
supply an answer to these important
questions. There are people VINO
maintain that an increase OF popula-
ton does not always coincide with the
richness Of a nation, that quality Is OF
more consequence than quantity, ana
so on. 1t is certain, however, thas
from a military point Of view-espe-
c:ally as regards Germany-the nu-
mer!cal inferiority Of his country can
not but be a source Of the deepest
anxiety to every patriotic Frenchman.
Let us examine few Of the statistic
al facts disclosed by the recent emu
meration. Rural depopulation Is gen.
eral everywhere, but even in the most
prosperous of our towns there Is no
augmentation worth speaking OF. Ac-
cordlng to the last London census the
number of inhabitants resident In the
British capital was 4,411,270. That Is
to say, about 100000 less than the
whole of Ireland. The increase dur
ing the preceding quinquennium was
200, 428. Now let us turn to Paris. me
prospect is by no means brilliant, not
withstanding the fact that the totals
show an increase Of S7,250 inhabitants
AS the compilers are careful to point
out, this result has occurred IN spite
OF diminution of natality. 1t simply
proves once more that the mania Tor
Capitalization causes steady fow OF
immigrants from the provinces to the
capital Parisions may sleep In peace.
The Seine will always be lined on
both sides, even though the people lin
ing it should have no children.
The dearth of children in France Is
due to the fact that the French peo-
pie do not choose to have families.
This is proved by the census in the
most striking and conclusive manner.
The old fable that the diminution OF
population was caused by excessive
mortality during infancy can no longer
gain credence. 1t is not the high-death
rate that is blameworthy, but the low
birth-rate. Neither can the defective
natality be laid to the charge of pow
erty. The richer Frenchman is the
fewer children he has. This is equally
true in town and country. The rich,
the educated, the cultured, are the Gull
prits. The cenSus just taken confirms
the melancholy reflections which were
published some time ago by DR.. Ber-
tillon. His assertion that if France
was to be repopulated it would be
thanks to the lower orders Is amply
sustained. Grenelle heads the list OF
births, while the Champs Elysees are
at the foot.
Poverty is unquestionably one of the
chief causes of depopulation, but it is
far from being the only one. If the
birth~rate diminished in the lower
stratum of society, poverty might be
ncriminated, but unfortunately the
figures point in precisely the opposite
direction. Should we not rather blame
the decadence of an effete civilization
in which refinement is pushed beyond
the limits of reason? Maternity is an
| instinct; it is nature itself. Now there
is nothing so hostile to instinct as edu'
| cation which is based essentially on
hypocrisy and makes children actors
! teaching them to dissimulate their real
thoughts, and, after rapid reflection, To
substitute for them others which may
conduce toward politeness, but are des.
titute of all sincerity. BY dint Of
! alternating man from Natural habits
education will end in making him a
purely artificial creature, unfit for his
| position and incapable of adding vigol
| to the race. Women, unsexed by lux
ury, will develop an increasing dislike
to maternity. That will be the oppor-
tunity for less civilized peoples to in.
wade US and make slaves of us. until
they, too, in their turn shall become
tender and neurotic.