New-York tribune., 1910-09-09
TIE LESSON OF GERnANH'S
GROWTH

Much comment is made upon the very
marked growth of the German Empire III
population, particularly in Two coun-
tries TO which it is assumed 10 be mat
ter of serious concern-an assumption
which we prefer TO regard as somewhat
exaggerated France, or perhaps II
would be better 70 say part Of France,
persists in looking upon Germany as an
enemy with whom conflict at arms IS
inevitable, and consequently sees cause
for disquiet in the fact that Germany IS
far and hopelessly outsr1pplng France
in growth of population and, therefore,
in military potentiality. There are also
some Britons who regard Germany rs
50 much of a rival, IN commerce II not
in arms. as TO view with some degree
of alarm Germany's increasing lead in
numbers over the United Kingdom.
Bevond doubt there IS much signii-
canoe in the fact Of Germany's growth.
Forty years ago, about, when the Ger
man Empire was founded, the popuIa-
tions of Great Britain, France and Ger
mapy We're respectively, in round num-
bers, thirty-one, thirty-six and forty-one
millions Now they are approximately
forty-siX. forty and siXty-five millions.
They have thus gained respectively Is. /,
III and 5S.5 per cent GermanyS ad-
vantage over Great Britain is note
worthy: over France it is enormous. Yet
IN natural conditions both OF those lands
presumably have advantages over Ger
many which should enable them to hold
their own. If not TO surpass her. OF
course there are special reasons in
France for the low birth rate and the
consequently slight increase in popula-
tion, and the consolidation Of the Ger
man states into an empire doubtless pro-
NOTED in various ways the increase Of
population, or promoted certain proc
esses which led to that end, and there
are obvious and not altogether discredit-
able reasons for the slower Increase of
the British than Of the German popula-
ton. We must take into &C INT the
French laws of inheritance and division
Of land and Great Britains colonial ex-
pansion and emigration. Yet there are
certain features Of Gernany's increase
which deserve the attention of the world
as object lessons in domestic empire
building.
Note that the increase IN Germany has
been due not to an increasing birth rate,
for that in fact, has decreased, but 10
/ greatly decreased death rate. That
means that Germany. with scientific
thoroughness and administrative eff
cheney is mastering the art Of saving and
prolonging human life; than which there
is no more beneticent achievement N
civilization, since 1t necessarily i'm
plies the raising of the standard Of liv-
ing. In that respect Germany is worthy
of all emulation. Note. too, that the in
crease is also due to the stay-at-home
habits of the people, which means that
the governments policies have given the
people so much prosperity and so much
satisfaction with their condition that
they do not emigrate-which is the more
noteworthy in view Of the fact that
hitherto the Germans have been "A Ri
grating people. From tie free trade
United Kingdom more than five hundred
thousand persons, or more than .o1 per
cent. emiCrate every year. while from
prOtecti0nist Germany only thirty thou
sand, or less than 900 per cent, thus de-
sert the Fatherland.
To reduce the death rate, and thus