Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-04
VITALITY OF THE FRENCH.
Striking Figures Show Dwindling in
the Birth Rate

From the Pail Mall Gazette
Serious public opinion In France is much
moved by the publication of figures showing
that the increase In population for last year
Is lower than ever before. The term de
population" is very commonly used but It
is hardly correct, since the population Is
not absolutely decreasing, but remaining
stationary Eight hundred thousand chill
dred were born in 1904. Each year since
the war there has been regular retro
gression. The figures were higher in 1903
than In 1904, and higher again in 1902 than
In 1903. Immediately after the war the births
averaged 6o.OO0 today the figures are s1s.-
O00. or $4,000 less. There is no reason to
suppose that the family spirit is awaken
Ing in France; therefore in another thirty
years the 100000 will have shrunk by an
other 10000. The death rate has slightly
Increased, but Is not in any sense abnor-
NAL. 1t represents 7e1, 600 In place of 1885,
600 last year. Consequently, the insignif-
cant margin of $1,000 separates the COM
ing 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 a mill
lion births. That represents a net increase
Of population Of half a million; that is to
say, ten times the figure of France. From
political sense, greater importance at
taches to the tables of Germany. The land
OF the kaiser has increased 800, 600 inhab-
itants, SO that in two years she could peo-
pie Alsace-Lorraine with a new population.
The enormous progress made by Germany
In the numbers Of her people stands re-
vealed when one takes a general look at
the statistics for the last fifty years In
1850 France and Germany had popula-
ton that was practically equal. say 3d.
O01,0Uo. Today the one is $4,000, 900 or 80,
0OO,0O0. the other Is 6OOU0.00o. These are
very significant figures, upon which 1t is
impossible not to ruminate. This diner
ence in population accounts for a great
deal. It explains the necessity of German
expansion-the restless desire 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 be-
come real colonizing power with a new
population that Is diminishing. These
public opinion here, but. unfortunately, no
one has been able to suggest a scientific
remedy. NJ. Plot, the weil-knoWn senator.
labors In season and out of season preach
ing the gospel OF large families: but no
one pays attention except to send the gooi
man a shower OF comic cards at the New
Year. But his remedies, such as they are
bonuses for the father of large families
and medals for mothers, can but touch the
fringe of the question The real reason Is
not economic Enough OF course, the division
of property among the children under
1t goes much deeper than that.
Civiizafion--if that Is the right name for
It. or. at least. the knowledge of good anu
evil-has reached point in France unat-
tanned by any other nation. Doctrines
touching upon the limitation Of population