Great Britain -- Social conditions -- 20th century
Though the arguments of the Neo-Malthusians be fallacious, and the
basis of their teaching illusionary, yet they have gained the
allegiance of a vast portion of the population of the Empire. A
birthrate lowered by half in some cities, and by a third over the whole
of the nation, testifies to the withering blight which has passed over
the race. In a little while Britain will be as France--its population
stationary. We have yet a little way to go ere we have reduced the
birthrate to the level of Australia, 10 per thousand; but we are on the
way to it. When that day draws near there will be no more emigrants
available for the territories that we hold; {38} and the door of
Australia must open to the yellow races. A race that chooses death can
no longer shape or mould the issues of life.
The statistics which abound in the Report are as the ringing of a
passing bell. But far more alarming than the mere statement that the
race is now sacrificing a third of its children is the fact that this
limitation has not yet come to its full development. The stage which
is now attained is that a vast majority of the educated classes
sacrifice the race to their self-indulgence. The figures given in a
booklet entitled _The Small Family System_ show that 'in the Fabian
Society in about 90 per cent. of the more recent marriages they have
voluntarily restricted.' The super-intelligent of the Socialists have
set their faces towards the drying up of life's sources. The evidence
amply proves that everywhere 'the size of the family tends to vary
inversely as the social status of the parents.' The figures provided
by the Registrar-General for {39} England and Wales showing the births
classified according to the occupation of the father, are as follows:
Births per 1000
married males aged
under 55 years,
Social Class including retired.
1. Upper and middle class . . . . . 119
2. Intermediate . . . . . . . . . . 132
3. Skilled workmen . . . . . . . . 153
4. Intermediate class . . . . . . . 158
5. Unskilled workmen . . . . . . . 213
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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