CHAPTER III. 



THE LAW OF POPULATION 

 ILLUSTEATED. 



IN dealing with population statistics, it is worse 

 than useless to select facts here and there in 

 order to prove a general law. Such a mode of pro- 

 ceeding has been one of the reasons that have brought 

 into discredit the value of arguments founded upon the 

 presentation of statistical facts. 



The populationist must be able to show the action 

 of his principles ruling through a period of successive 

 years sufficiently long to allow the elevations and 

 depressions of the individual years to subside into a 

 general level, so that he may arrive at averages that 

 are perfectly trustworthy. He is thus enabled to 

 bring phenomena that are, at the first glance, 

 apparently conflicting into a demonstrable harmony 

 with the general principle which he is illustrating. 

 In illustrating the general law of the movement of 

 population, I for the most part confine myself to 

 those European countries whose vital statistics for the 

 period under review I consider deserving of full 

 reliance. 



I have, where it is possible, begun my tables with 

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