Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-01-07
STATIONARY FRANCE.

The kilograms report that as q
nation France has not increased IN
numbers the past I've years; that
while there has been an Increase oil
population 10 twenty.iour protects
there has been decrease In sixty-three
preiects, The statistics bear out The
assertion made by Nj. Lagneau In 1890,
and secuted at at that time as being too
discreditable to the French people,
that "the voluntary diminution Of the
number of births Ia the chief cause Of
the depopulation OF our country; that
all other causes taken together, includ.
ing even the great mortality OF young
babies, have much les' action than
this one taken alone"
Mr.. LagneRu urged as means OF
efiecting n change in this unfortunate
condition new methods OF Legislation.
He did not believe the theory that
legislation Is rowerlesa over morale
and that no law could force French
men TO increase and multiply; and In
support Of his view he pointed out
that existing laws had the effect OF
restraining the birihrate,an and urged that
laws OF a reverse character would pro-
duce another effect. On this same point
OF legislation being potent cause
OF voluntary diminution In the
birthrate, Stoddari Dewey has an eK-
haustive article in the London West
minister Review. He declares that be-
cause OF the statutory difficulties, In
social, political ana military sffIirs,
that exist antecedent Ito marriage, the
French are brought 10 understand that
parents must not bring children into
the world unless they can foresee how
they are to be supported to the end OF
their lives, ana that the conclusion is
evident among that whole section OF
the middle class, more numerous than
in any other civilized nation, where
the family depends for its support on
some state functionary's place or other
moderately snlaried position. In the
case OF ANAL landown ers, shopkeepers
or professional men, 1t Ia claimed that
this unfavorable condition is i'm.
mensely aggravated by the compul.
sorry division of estates among all the
children; and the fiscal condition OF
the French people OF late
years has added tenfold to
the force of these prudential reasons
for declining the burden OF children.
First. the taxes Weighing on the
French citizen are heavier than in
other countries, and are applied more
infinitely. And no French citizsn
wishes to have a son unless he has a
chance OF placing him for life in some
government office; while the multipli.
cation OF government offices helps 10
keep the citizen too poor to have chill
dren.
There Is the further point OF the
physical disadvantage to which the |
French woman ia put by her educa. |
ton. In the way OF caring for her
physical organization. The military |
training also teaches the young men
to get on without wives, and comes
during those years when the young
soldier otherwise would be under the
natural impulse to pair of with a
female mate OF his species. On other
features affecting marriage MIR. Dewey
says;
Marriage itself is made more difficult
bylaw in France than in other countries. |
Masson-Fores ier's stories OF the respect |
ful summons which must be served on |
parents or grandparents, who will not |
consent TO their children's MARRIAGES. IN |
be served as a prerequisite of validity,
show how heavily mere civil iormalitles
weigh ON the working population in |
which families hold little together. A |
pari OF this burden has been lightened |
by tho present parliament, but "red |
tape" still interferes with the tying of |
the civil knot. In all but the poorest |
classes OF the French people, marriage
is made still more difficult by invetorate |
family traditions. These center i'm a |
moral principle which, perhaps, never |
existed in he Anglo-Saxon conscience.
that parent Is bound to project |
through tho whole course OF their natural
life. llence daughters cannot be married
OH In Fthnce without sufficient doWry |
This oNec.inu Of tue dst makes marriage
n business matter between parent, rather
than question al mutual love aud CON
iidenco between the intended husband
and wife. II also streng hens two OF the
worst habits that are peculiar TO the
men oil the Latin race. one is willing.
ness TO be supported by woman
whether wife ~ mistress. The other bad
habit, NOT 50 shameful hut flr.reachiup
in It's iniquity, Is the Deliberate ,ncritirs
of daughters 20 sons. Thus, il a choice
must be made between tho daugh et's
dot and life position Tor the son. where |
his support viii be assured by what Ills
parents have done for him, The son is
sure TO be provided FOR, and the poor |
girl, sans dot, mus. give up all hopes OF |
marriage.
But behind all these incidental
causes, there is that which brinss a |