132 THE LAW OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS 



that the negro population has not kept pace with the 

 native white population. The reason is to be found in 

 the smaller excess of births over deaths." l The larger 

 deathrate of the negro appears to be due to constitutional 

 weaknesses which make him peculiarly liable to con- 

 sumption and other diseases, and also to his loose sexual 

 habits. 



A classic example of the effect of oppression on the 

 fertility of a race is provided by the case of the Israelites 

 in Egypt under Pharaoh. Let the chronicler tell his 

 own story : 



" Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which 

 knew not Joseph. 



" And -he said unto his people, Behold, the people 

 of the children of Israel are more and mightier 

 than we : 



" Come on, let us deal wisely with them ; lest they 

 multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth 

 out any war, they join also to our enemies, and fight 

 against us. and so get them up out of the land." 



Pharaoh was a prudent and thoughtful statesman. 

 His method of dealing with the situation was eminently 

 statesmanlike. 



" Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to 

 afflict them with their burdens. And they built for 

 Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. 



" But the more they afflicted them, the more they 

 multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because 

 of the children of Israel." 



No wonder they were " grieved." The Israelites were 



notoriously a stiff necked people. On this occasion they 



displayed a perversity that must have driven Pharaoh 



nearly to distraction. Such a swarm of little Israelites 



1 Races and Immigrants in America, John R. Common. 



