When we look abroad the most encouraging progress is in the race to
which this republic owes its origin. In spite of the cruel oppression
in Ireland, Great Britain has been prospering in the last twelve
years. Mr. Mulhall, the able statistician, has shown in the
contemporary _Review_ that in the United Kingdom, since 1875, the
population has increased twelve per cent., the wealth twenty-two per
cent., trade twenty-nine per cent., shipping sixty-seven per cent.,
and instruction sixty-eight per cent. Hence there is a marked increase
of knowledge and wealth. During this period the natural increase of
population has been 1200 daily and the immigration to the United
States and Colonies has averaged 600 daily. In addition to the
national increase, there has been an immigration of 1,317,000,
consisting of foreign settlers and returned colonists. Two-thirds of
the emigration went to the United States.
This healthy increase of population contrasts favorably with the
condition in France. England had in 1883 a surplus of births over
deaths of 367,000 in a population less than 27,000,000. In France the
surplus of births in 1881 was but 108,229, in 1884 but 79,000, and in
1885, 85,464. The excessive militarism cultivated in France is adverse
to national growth, and justly so; while the peaceful condition of
America insures great national growth--a beneficent law. No nation has
ever grown with the rapidity of ours, but our rate of growth has
greatly diminished during the present century. Dr. Fonce's statistics
show that twice as many children were born in proportion to population
at the beginning of the century, as have been born since 1850. What is
the reason?