Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-24
ouR NArIvE POPULATION.


Though the fact that our foreign popu-
lation is increasing very fast is known to
everybody, most of us have supposed that
immigration accounted mainly for this
fact.
A distinguished German statistician, DR..
r. r. Cucinski, however, has recently
made a study Of the native race in
this country, and his Investigations reveal
some very remarkable conditions and ten
denotes.
In his search for vital statistics DR..
Cncinsld took Massachusetts as a fair
field for an investigation OF vital statistics
relative 10 the population of the United
States. This careful investigator has been
convinced that the native born population
OF our country is increasing by no means
as rapidly as the foreign element, even
leaving immigration out OF consideration.
The number of children born TO foreign
parents in the United States is proper
tionately far larger than the number born
20 American parents.
The extent TO which this greater foreign
birth rate is found to go I'm Massachusetts,
Is truly surprising. The figures given by
DR.. CucInsd cover the period from 1888
TO 1887. During that time the annual birth
rate among native parents was 17.0S per
cent, as against 52.16 among the foreign
born The average number OF children
born TO every foreign-born married wo-
man was two-thirds higher than for the
native. The proportion Of single persons
among the adult natives is two-hfths;
among the foreign born IL is less than one
third. While nearly one-half Of the ma
tives of Massachusetts are single, only
two-elsvenths OF the immigrant women
born in Germany are unmarried. The aver
age number Of children living for every
married woman is three-itths higher
among the foreign born than among the
natives. eft Is probable" concludes the
German statistician. "thatethe native pop
ulation cannot hold its own. 1t seems to
be dying out"
The declaration that the pure native pop
uIation IS not holding it's own is not pleas
ing to contemplate. but the statistics seem
10 sustain it. The effect OF such investiga-
lions as DR.. Cucinsh has been making
viii undoubtedly increase the demand for
LEGISLATION that will restrict immigration.
The Massachusetts, press takes a very
gloomy view of the prospects Of our native
POPULATION NAG N0AAAA0A u NAAao N~N-@~%S
in the future AZ we continue TO permit the
present immense stream Of immigration to
pour IN.
A writer In The Boston Transcript who
has made a study OF the census statistics
for 1900. goes even further than DR.. Gu
cinsh In the opinion that the predomi-
nance OF native stock" in the United
States will soon be a thing Of the past.
He is convinced that no measure Of immi-
grafton restriction. not even complete sup
preston, will suffice to preserve the DOM
nance in this country Of the people who
were its founders. 1.-The races showing the
highest birth rate" this pessimist asserts,
will so obviously possess the land that 1t
makes little difference with the final result
whether a few hundred thousand more or
less OF a particular strain are now ad-
mitted or not" II rigid measure Of ex-
cIusIon had been adopted in 1920, he adds,
the country would have been kept Eng
Iish in blood and, IN fact, as it is now in
language" It IS too late to take precau-
tionary measures OF that kind. If the sta
tisticians and the pessimists know what
they are talking about, the scepter
so7eretgntY in the United States will soon
pass from Anglo-Saxon hands into the
hands OF men OF races quite distinct from
that Of the founders Of the republic.
This is surely a pessimistic view, for 1t
Is undoubtedly true that American blood
and ideas affect foreigners who come here
and their children who are born here far
more than they are affected by these for
eign ideas and associations. The Anglo
Saxon race is the most aggressive In the
world. It is never obliterated' and never
fails TO hold its own.
The United States viii remain American.
whatever the statistics may show in the
xay Of probabilities. The racial absorbing
and conversion in this country will be done
by the native race. not by the foreigners
Who come here.