The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1906-04-06
RACE SUICIDE in FRANCE.

Statistics show that the Birth Rats
Is Decreasing Every Year.
Serious public opinion in France ID
much moved by the publication Of fis-
ures showing that the increase In popu.
lation for last year is lower than ever
before. The term "depopulation" 10
very commonly used, but 1t IL hardly
correct, since the population is not alb
soluteiy decreasing, but remaining sta
tionary. Eight hundred thousand chill
dren were born in 1904. Each year
since the war there has been a regu-
lar retrogression. The figures were
higher In 1903 than In 1904 and higher
again in 1902 than in 1908.
Immediately after the war the births
averaged 100000; to-day the figures
are $4,000, or $4,000 less There is NO
reason to suppose that the family spirit
ID awakening in France; therefore, In
another thirty years the 10000 will
have shrunk by another 10000. The
death rate has slightly increased, but
Is not In any sense abnormal. 1t rep
resents 761 900 In place Of $4,000 last
year. Consequently, the Insignificant
margin of $1,000 separates the coming
France from the departing France, the
births from the deaths.
The Importance of such figures Is al
ways relative. What are the vital sta
tistics of the neighbors of France? In
1908, the last figures available, England
had over 100000 births. That repre-
sents a net increase Of population Of
5OO,OOO-that is to say, ten times the
figures of France. From a political
sense greater Importance attaches to
the tables of Germany. The land oG
the Kaiser has increased 10000 In
habitants, SO that in two years she
could people Alsace- Lorraine with q
new population. The enormous, prog
ress made by Germany in the numbers
of her people stands revealed when ona
takes general look at the statistics
for the last fifty years.
In 1850 France and Germany had q
population that was practically equal,
say 35,000,O00. To-day the one is 3S,-
100000 or 100000, the other is co.
600. These are very significant figures,
upon which 1t is impossible not to rum
mate. This difference In population ac-
counts for a great deal. 1t explains
the necessity of German expansion
the restless desire for fresh fields and
pastures new. 1t explains, also, tha
other side Of the shield-the recent
"frousse" this country had when the
war lord lifted up his sword In the d.
rection Of the Vosges.
1t is obvious that France can never
become a real colonizing power with a
new population" that is diminishing
These things are well understood by
enlightened public opinion here, but, un-
fortunately, no one has been able To
suggest a scientific remedy. M. Plot.
the well known senator, labors In sea-
son and out Of season preaching the
gospel Of large families, but no one
pays attention, except to send the good
man a shower Of comic cards at the
New Year. But his remedies, such az
they are-bonuses for the fathers OF
large families and medals for mothers
can but touch the fringe of the ques-
ton. The real reason Is not economic.
though, of course, the division Of prop
erty among the children under French
law has something to do with 1t; ID
goes much deeper than that.
Civilization-if that Is the right
name for it-or at least the knowledge
of good and evil, has reached a point
in France unattained by any other ma
ton. Doctrines touching upon the linn
itation of population are openly dis
cussed and the child is not brought into
the world unless there is at least a
pewter spoon In its mouth. 1t is the
excess of thrift the overcare for the
morrow, that is the secret OF the situa-
Mall Gazette.