The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-04-11
RACE SUICIDE IN FRANCE.
Statistics Show That the Birth Rate
Is Decreasing Every Year 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 nsed, 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 1903 than in 1904 and higher
again in 1902 than in 1908.
Immediately after the war the
births averaged $50, 900; to-day the
figures are $4,000. or 142, 900 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 10000. The death
rate has slightly increased, but is
not in any sense abnormal. Itrep-
resents 761,O 900 in place of 753,-
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
| il always relative. What are the
vital statistics Of the neighbors Of
France? In 1908, the last figures
available, England had over ,000,-
600 births. That represents a
net increase of population of 500.
O00-that is to say, ten times the
figures of France. From a p0lit
ical sense greater Importance at
taches to the tables of Germany.
The land of the kaiser has m
creased 100000 inhabitants, so
that in two years She could people
IAlsace Lorraine with new popu-
lation. The enormous progress
made by Germany in the mum
bers of her people stands re-
vealed when one takes a general
look at the statistics for the last
50 years.
In 1850 France and Germany
had population that was practic
ally equal, say 35,000,OOO. To-day
the one il 3S,OOO,O 900 or $4,000, 900
the other is 6O,00O,O0O. These arr
very significant figures, upon
which it is impossible not to ru
inmate. This difference in popu
lation accounts for a greamdeal
1t 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
"froussen this country had wheI
the war lord lifted up his sword il
the direction of the Nosges.
1t is obvious that France car
never become a real colonizins
power with a new population
that is diminishing. These things
are well understood byenlightene,
public opinion here, but, unfor
tunately, no one has been able t,
suggest scientific remedy. NJ
Plot, the well-known senator, la
bors in season and out of season
preaching the gospel Of large fam
lilies, but no one pays attention ex
cept to seLi the good man
shower of comic cards at the Nev
Year. But his remedies, such a
they are--bonuses for the father
of large families and medals TO
the mothers--can but touch tn
n fringe of the question. The rea
I reason is not economic, though o
! course the division Of propert
/ among the children under Frenc
! law has something to 40 with il
I it goes much deeper than that.
4 Civilization-if that is the righ
name for it-or at least the know
! edge of good and evil, has reache
]. point in France unattained b
I any other nation. Doctrines toucl
: ing upon the limitation of popul;
t ton are openly discussed and th
: child is not brought into the worl
unless there is at least a pewte
= =. "a. ~-.4l. II =. A.