XIV ADDRESS- 



the old world. But leaving out of view these excep- 

 tional instances, in both directions, the natural tendency 

 of population, in all countries not particularly barren, 

 unhealthy, or ill-governed, is to a constant increase, up 

 to the limit of their producing power. If it be true, 

 that our race is advancing in civilization, knowledge, 

 virtue and power, then the increase of the world's popu- 

 lation will go on in an accelerated ratio. If men live 

 more justly, temperately and virtuously, they will live 

 longer, thrive better, and rear larger families. If wars 

 ever cease, one important check to the growth of popu- 

 lation will be abolished. If oppression ceases, and 

 good government obtains, prosperity will prevail, and 

 where there is prosperity, population rapidly advances. 

 If humanity and charity increase in the world, the poorer 

 classes will be better cared for, better fed, better 

 clothed, better housed, more healthy, more long-lived 

 and more prolific. If sanitary and medical science 

 advances, diseases will be less frequent and less fatal, 

 and the average term of human. life will be continually 

 lengthening. These causes are already producing these 

 results ; mortality is decreasing ; the average duration 

 of human life is advancing, in the countries that have 

 •made most progress in civilization, good government, 

 and benevolence. All these signs point to the approach- 

 ing fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah, — " There shall 

 be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man 

 that hath not filled his days : for the child shall die an 

 hundred years old ; and he that misses of an hundred 

 years (so some understand the latter part of the verse,) 

 shall be reckoned accursed," — ' shall be regarded as 

 cut off prematurely by a divine judgment.' In view of 



