New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-10
POPILATION N CAN1DA.

The phcnomenally low birth rate in the Prov
ince of Ontario is exciting serious apprehen-
sion in Canada. The matter came up for dis
cussion the other day in the Provincial Synod
of the Anglican Church. and the press is max
ing all sorts of suggestions in regard to it,
The latest official returns give the rate IN On
tario as 2O.I births TO every 1000 of the pop
ulation, against 22 In France, which has the
lowest birth rate in Europe In Hungary the
rate is more than 40; in some parts OF Russia
1t Is nearly 30. In Great Britain and the
United States the rate Is 30 and 266S, rcspcc
lively. When ii Is remembered that Ontario
is the province which is most representative
Of the AnglO-Saxon type of civilization in Can
ada it Is not AT all strange that such an alb
normally low birth rate should attract general
attention in the Dominion. For if IT is not ar
rested or made good by immigration it means
the disappearance Of Ontario as factor In the
national and social life of Canada.
On the other hand in the Province of Que
bee the birth rate has always been exceptional
~ high. The Provincial Government gives 100
acres of land to the father of twelve legitimate
children ana the priests do all in their power
to encourage large families. As a result of this
policy. the province now has IA population Of
100000 against 10000 in 1859. when II came
under English control, an Increase all the more
noteworthy when it is remembered that there
has been no immigration TO speak of from
France. More than n million Of these French
Canadians from Quebec have come to this conn-
try But what Is exciting the most attention
now In Canada is the fact that they are be-
ginning to overflow into the Province of on
talio. Some of its eastern counties have, in
foc III
movement goes on II will not be many years
before the whole Province of Ontario will be
French. and frcnch-C Canadians Will thereby be-
come dominant in the politics and government
of the country. The Frcncl-Canadans are a
thrifty, law-abiding people and many Of them
have made excellent American citizens But
fers widely from that of the Englishspeakins
races, and their supremacy in Canada would
revolutlonize the life and development of 1he
country.
Canada urgently needs more population. for
not even the high birth rate in Quebec offsets
the small increase in the other provinces and
the emigration 10 this country which Is con-
stantly going on. The causes of the small
birth rate in Ontario are somewhat obscure.
1t cannot be on account Of bad times. for on
tIIIO lS Oh lut NHDlc, UeHy prosperous. OUc
journal ventures the suggestion that the cause
is a psychological one, involving a personal
disregard OF national obligation. However
that may be. there is no probability that the
birth rate is going TO increase under the pres
ent social and national conditions Of the coun-
try. There are, therefore only two other ways
by which an increase in the population may he
brought about. The first is 10 stop the con
tinuous immigration of Canadians 10 this c0lln-
try. But this is easier said than done. In
fact, 1t cannot he done so long as the United
States offers a better chance for able AMI an
bilious young men than Canada does. Cana
dians as a rule, do not come 10 this country
because they prefer our Government or insti-
tutons TO their own If other things were
equal. they would rather continue To live in
the land OF their BIRTH with its traditions Of
freedom. justice and order But the other
things are not equal. Canadians come here
because they can do better here materially, and
while that Is the case they will continue to