New-York tribune., 1908-01-12
NEW HAMPSHIRES
MORAL DECADENCE.
PESSIIHISTIC OUTCRY
FROM WITHIN.
old Stock Dying Out-Illiteracy,
DiUOrce, Drunkenness and
ITelgiOB Rampant.
BY the Rev. r. :. Tasker. Of Tilton-

Our old state has to be proud OF its IN
ceasing contributions TO the manhood OS nation
But this drain has begun TO tell and We
find that the sources are being sadly depleted In
some particulars the state has been almost I'm
perceptb1y slipping down from the nigh standards
of American civilization a process OF moral and
intellectual degeneration has been going on in our
midst. What were once pure mountain streams ot
human life becoming either muddy streams or
dry brook beds.
Now this is due to some extent to the shifting os
population native American stock migrating 20
other states. where there are larger opportunities
for wealth and advancement and food Of foreign
ers pouring in to take their places. In 1870 the
total population OF the state was $4,000. OF whom
273 go native Americans and 5000 were Of
foreign birth parentage- In 1900 the native popu
Iation had fallen 230CO and the foreign popula-
tion had risen to 1921 To-day It is estimated
that nearly IL not quite one-half Of our population
is of foreign birth or parentage
We have nothing to say against foreigners
such but IL one knows the character OF the vast
majority Of these newcomers he can easily see
one cause intellectual and moral retro
eresson as a state But this is the only
In some sections a weakening OF the native stock
is also manifest. We have for so long time been
pouring good blood into the cities and into otnsr
states that in some rural communities there re-
mains only a residuum with scarce enough vitality
to maintain itself The old stock has been dying
out and what is left has become sadly degenerate
For instance here is the record OF an average
country town for one year: Twenty-nine marriages.
% births 10 deaths Nothing very promising mere
for the future population OF that town. In can
vass of thirty-seyen towns in one section OF our
state made within two or three years. II was
found that the population was decreasing IN
tventv-seyen Of them and in this same region.
containing 073 dwelling houses. 1.os4. almost
one-eighth of them. Were found 20 be deserted
places These figures are suggestive or the loss IN
population in some OF our rural sections In sun
o~a.r- has haa w0arFa
good by the occupancy Of the abandoned farms by
the incoming foreigners
The signs of deterioration IN state are not
hard to find New Hampshire once occupied the
proud place OF third in the Union for Hteracy; now
she has fallen TO the twentyeghth- This may be
due largely TO newly acqulred Iorslsh pop1Ia-
ton, but not wholly So
But worse than this is the decadence in the
moral life OF the state. and perhaps ths most
glaring indication OF this is found IN the recent
growth of the divorce evil. which has permeated
city and country village alike. and has become so
widespread as to make il delicate subject The
record Of our state this question IS anything
but an enviabe one. In 1870 we had llS cases cc
divorce in New Hampshire. and there has been
steady and rapid increase until in 1904 we had 40
cases This IS the shameful record for one year
Indications are that the public conscience IN our
state has been de2dened by familiarity with moral
Iooseness This moral evil may not be la1d al the
door of our foreign population. The Roman Cath
oIic Church of which the foreigners largely
members, is proverbiaIiy strong and true on the
divorce question The fault then must be found
largely in the moral laxity of our native popula-
ton
Another sign times is found in the increase
IN drunkenness during last few years. since the
overthrow Of the prohbitOry system Since the
present local option license law went into effect the
commitments to our county houses OF correction
for drunkenness have increased from +73 IN 1872
to z1s2 in 1906 And there is growing conviction
that drinking is on the increase among the young
men Of our state Some OF best citizens are ex-
nressfnr in strongest their horror az the sit
nation and calling for change in the law that
NAV help to better conditions large share OF the
blame for our degradation in this respect may %
attributed to the foreigner who. with his drinking
customs stands for the license system
Another sign of our present condition II 70 oe
found in the growing spirit Of irregion- Our non
churchgoing element is on tie increase. In ths
thrty-seven already referred TO- the religious
census yielded the following results Out OF
total population OF about 1000 500. one-fourth
claimed 70 have no church affiliations whatever
| and 1900 or over oue-half. had never received
the rite of baptism. Now if this proportion IS the
same throughout the state it indicates lamentab,e
| condition OF irreHgion in a supposedly Christian
| commonwealth
This Is not the whole story by any means, but
enough has been said to indicate OF the great
| ODDS against which the religious forces of New
| Haroshire are contending to-day. We personally
know of Methodist ministers in this state who are
living the truly sacriical life in the Masters name
| that the kingdom OF God may be advanced When
one considers that out OF total OF l4' churches N
the New Hampshire Conference seventy-twO pay
less than $500 salary. and that. IN spite o. ts
use 10 some extent of the circuit system there are
still thfrtv-four pastors in this conference who re-
cefve cash salary os less than $5oa. can see
that our work to-day be largely OF home
missionary natUre--Zion's Herald