New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-07

elgn-bOrn population Of the country since 1864 and u
the zen leading cities appears that while the proper
ton Of foreigners has uniformly increased for the
try at large, IL has decreased in the cities. This con-
cusion is the opposite Of the general belief which ox
aegerates the proportion of foreign born in large
cities, mainy no doubt, on account Of the increased
immigration Of Latns and Says) and IL indicates that
cities do act as centres for the dispersion Of foreign
Immigrants The subject invites consideration Of the
negro II is found 10 have strong tendency 10
move to towns and cities and long the goals
the smaller Southern instead OF the large Northern
cities, the the author 10 be rich in
promise Of development Of industry and thrift
Birth, marriage and death represent what is called
the natural movement Of population" Birth rates
decline in cities This is probably due. not to
cenratOn which would tend raise them. but 10 The
law that declining birth rate accompanies advancing
civilization. The matter is treated extensively and
the influence of the factory system and the plomn
OF children IS explained, but in general II may be- said
that. in far cities represent the highest culture
ard comfort OF country so far will they have low
birth rate and small-sized families. Marriage is AZ
fected little. The is always higher in industrial
cities where women have employment but ihe percent
Of married couples in the large cities is unexpectedly
small The drift 10 the suburbs largely explains hat
Death rates relatively high In the United States
The mortality is heavier in the city than in the country
in every period Of life and. rule Increase in So
verify i'm the same ratio as the magnitude OF the dry
The condition is International But urban death rates,
we have seen have fallen greatly. Cities now lead
the way in sanitary improvements, and there seems
10 be no reason think that mere agglomeraton u
people must mean high mortality.
Indeed the author resents the notion OF city ten
dency produce physical degeneration. He mentions
the oft-quoted assertion that in city no business
house be found whose members have resided there
more than two generations only TO state that ih" idea
is based Anticipated statistics. He examine those.
gives the later and makes it clear that in his mind
Tie city born and bred have no cause for envy of the
rustics. And this much may admit. physical
prowcss is not the great thing in the world to-day.
Nervous energy and mental alertness. coupled with
opportunity have little 10 fear from mere strength
Of muscle and pounds Of flesh. These are the yctors
in socejy present state and the city is most favorable
to their development. Dr. Weber however. goes fur
Their He doubts if moral dogeneracy Is, on the Whol"
more serious in cities than in the country. Adequate
statistics hard to secure those We have being mega
tive since they make record Of the immOfai y. Tho
ditto lead in legifmacy but the maternity hospitals
there prostitution is a city vice but how largely
is it supported by single very small class and ny
teachers? In New York State, where the number ~
saloons may give rough index OF a towns morality,
rural parts but the largest cities are not the leaders
The amount Of vciousness and criminality in cities
is probably exaggerated in popular estimation from
The fact that the cities have long been under the blaze
Of argus-eyed press so thai the worst is known
about them
And the record of philanthropy with all il ndi-
cafes Of virtue is TO be had in figures II is sug-
ges;ed that could statistics give mean Of good and
evil this might turn the scale.
The fasity of the average is as plain in eco
homie as in moral Investigations. The city has bc'h
a hopeless poverty and a splendid wealth which the
thiiher seems 20 indicate far as II has economic
meaning an expectation OF a better chance 10 succ'
in cities than in the country a belief that must he
based upon experience As 10 politics. radicaism has
been always feared from the cities where 30 few
voters own their homes On this point author sats
There ether forms Of property than real estate.
If man who rents his home has good bank account
he IS likely vote for the overthrow ~ govern
ment And the American election 81 l>.5
proved that the land owner is not necessarily cone
sentative nor the city man necessarily radi'"l
But all is coueur De rose. Glass antaeonsm.
the complexity of city government and the social dam
ger OF the cys demoralizing indyidualism are wis
fraGgh with p0rtents thar only cause alarm The
problems are difficult but thoughtful men arr facing
them and innumorahle reform clubs are alreaQ r'g
remedies In fact the sufferers from tho oou''a-l.-
ton Of population in the cities to Dr. Weber o .
the rural rather than the urban dwellers the Villages
thar lose The cities that gain, and he says fIrEer
It is emphaticaly that the growth Of cities not
only Increases nations economic power and energy
but Quickens the national pulse. In The ple-en age
the influence OF the cities is perhaps strong n
the direction of the nObest thought and culture ie-
cause The present age is essentially materali>ir Put
there is some reason for believing that MoteriAlisu =
gradually giving way before Humanitariansm and We
may hope in time to the great cities exercise as
noble a domination in the world OF though, was
maintained by the Athens of Percles ami At-ratius,
10y the Rome Of lucretius and Juyenal. By th' Flor
once OF Michael Angelo. by the London of ri iaHetn,
and by the Paris OF the second half Of tue seventeenth