THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1896.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10100, 8 April 1896, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1896.

As bearing on the relative position of certain of the Great Powers of Europe in the coming time, a significant item appeared in our yesterday's cables. It was to the effect that statistics show that the population of Germany has increased three millions during the past five years, while that of France has only increased by 120,000 souls. This is not the only intimation we have had of the relative decay of the French nation, for it is a known fact that for several years in the last decade or two there has been in Franco an actual decrease of population, and it is a noteworthy circumstance that Franco is the only country in Europe in which in the period of the last thirty years there lias been an actual decrease in the number of men capable of bearing arms, and of women capable of bearing children. Though feelings of irritation are sometimes experienced by us at the provoking and tantalising attitude of what used to be spoken of as "our gallant allies," one cannot suppress a feeling of regret that a great and proud and high-spirited people like the French are really a dying nation, and that the time i 3 within measurable distance when, from the relative proportions of population, apart altogether from the result of martial operations, France must tako a very subordinate position among the groat Powers.

Taken in comparison with England tho small growth of population in Franco has been very striking. In tho time of the Napoleonic wars, at the beginning of the century, there were seven Frenchmen to every four British subjects, and at tho very time when England swept tho French navy off the seas and established a predominance which has remained to this day, the number of tho British population was little more than half the population of France. To-day the population of the United Kingdom apart from the colonies is estimated at a million more than that of France, having increased two and a-third times since tiie beginning of the century, while the population of France has only grown by a third. And this process of relative

growth has been going on with' a rapidly-increasing ratio of progression, for while in the ten years preoeding 1891 the United Kingdom had added three millions to its population in addition to the great growth of population in the colonies, France merely added 700,000 to her population, while the increase of population in her colonies was inappreciable. But the last five years have given a more unfavourable position for France, for in that period there have been several years in which the deaths in France have exceeded the births, as in 1892 when the population was decreased by 30,000, and the nation has been actually in a state of decay. But when we compare the growth of population of the various vigorous outshoots of the British race we see the disparity in growth of population more marked still, for while since the beginning of the century France has only added to her population by a third, Canada has increased her population about tenfold, the United States about twelvefold, .while the Australasian colonies, the youngest and most vigorous of all, have increased their population about 5G5 times.

But it is not merely in comparison with the growth of the Anglo-Saxon race—which is phenomenal-that the distancing of France in the race of progression is apparent. We have already seen how that country stands towards Germany in growth of population during the past five years, but all the other nations of Europe, with the exception of Turkey, which of course has been suffering from periodical amputations of territory, have shown an increase from twofold to threefold and upward, as compared to France's increase of a third of her population during the currency of the present century. Why this contrast should exist it is not for us to enquire, but it has caused deep concern to many of the ablest thinkers in France, who see in it foreshadowed the ultimate extinction of the French race. There is no visible diminution in the vitality of the French people, in fact their restlessness and jealous ambitions, as well as their determination to repair the military losses of the past, would seem to augur a vigor of national social and individual life as great as in the most triumphant period of their history. There are not more deaths proportionately to population than there used to be; but the ominous feature is that there are fewer births. Since 1801 the birth rate has been steadily declining, until, as we have seen, there have been years when the deaths were more numerous than the births. In fact the children are not born and will not be born, despite the exemption from taxation and other immunities conferred by the Government on the parents of large families. How far this condition of things is due to deliberate intention is best known to the French people themselves; but however it may lessen the responsibilities of parents, and accord with the principles of thrift that are so cha racteristic of the French peasantry and the people generally, this diminution of the birth rate, this steadiness and increasing rapidity of the decline, point as with the unerring finger of fate to the ultimate sinking of the French nation among the leading Powers of the world. As between France and Germany, every year is making more difficult the realisation of that great revenge which the former cherishes as among the most fixed principles of hor national life, inasmuch as every year is adding the material of a new vast army corps to Germany, which either nature or misdirected art fails to supply to France, Time, therefore, is telling on the factors of the great problem of national ascendancy, and the stars in their courses are fighting against France. What she hesitates to adventure now will be beyond her power by-and bye, and if . the great trial of strength can only be staved oS by Germany for a period every year of delay will be to the empire an additional guarantee of safety. Perhaps it is the consciousness that time is working against the realisation of France's choicest hopes that gives that morbidly neurotic character to French politics in international relations, but other nations as well as the French must see that the census is slowly but steadily settling the ultimate balance of power in Europe, and that while they may increase. Franco must decrease in influence over the councils and the destiny of nations. j