The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1906-03-10
RACE SUICIDE IN FRANCE.
Statistics Show That the Birth Rata
Il Decreasing Every Xear IN
That Country.

is much moved by the publication
Of figures showing that the in.
crease In population for the last
year is lower than ever before,
says the Pail Mall Gazette. The
term "depOpulatiOn' is very com
monty used, but it is hardly cor
rect, since the population is not alb
solutely decreasing, but remain
ing stationary. Eight hundred
thousand children were born In
1904. Each year since the war
there has been a regular retro
gressiOn. The figures were higher
in 1908 than In 1904 and higher
again in 1902 than in 1903.
Immediately after the war the
births averaged 100000; to-day the
figures are S18 5000. or $4,000 less.
There is no reason to suppose that
the family spirit is awakening in
in France; there, in another 80
years, the 100000 will have shrunk
by another $50 1000. The death
rate has slightly increased, but is
not in any sense abnormal. Itrep.
resents 100000 in place of 1853.
600 last year. Consequently, the
insignificant margin of 81, 900 sep
arates the coming France from the
departing France, the births from
the deaths.
The Importance Of such figures
is always relative. What are the
vital statistics of the neighbors of
France? In 1903, the last figures
available, England had over 1,06O,-
600 births. That represents a
net increase of population of 500.
OOO-that is to say, ten times the
figures of France. From a polit
zeal sense greater Importance at
taches to the tables of Germany.
The land of the kaiser has in
creased 100000 inhabitants. so
that in two years she could people
Alsace-LOrraine with a new popu.
lation. The enormous progress
made by Germany in the nun
bers of her people stands re.
vealed when one takes a general
look at the statistics for the last
80 years.
In 1850 France and Germany
had a population that was practic,
ally equal, say $4,000, 900. Today
the one is SS,00O,O0O or 80, 10000 OO.
the other is $4,000 900. These are
very significant figures, upon
which it is impossible not TO ru.
inmate. This difference in popu-
lation accounts for a great deal.
II explains the necessity of Ger
man expansion-the restless de.
sire for fresh fields and pastures
new. 1t explains, also, the other
side of the shield-the recent
"frousse" this country had when
the war lord lifted up his sword in
the direction of the Vosges.
1t is obvious that France can
never become a real colonizinc
power with a "new population
that is diminishing. These things
are well understood by enlightened
public opinion here, but, unfor
tunately, no n has been able ia
suggest a scientific remedy. NJ.
Plot, the well-known senator. la
hors in season and out of season
preaching the gospel of large fam.
lies, but no one pays attention ex-
cept to send the good man a
shower of comic cards at the New
Year. But his remedies, such as
they are-bonuses for the fathers
of large families and medals for
the mothers-can but touch the
fringe of the question. The real
reason is not economic, though of
course the division of PROPERTY
among the children under French
law has something to do with h:
it goes much deeper than that.
Gvilization-if that is the right
name for it--or at least the knowl.
edge of good and evil, has reached
a point in France unattained by
any other nation. Doctrines touch.
ing upon the limitation Of popula.
ton are openly discussed and The
child is not brought into the world
unless there is at least a pewter
=