The Sun.
London, England, 1847-09-20 00:00:00

[PRr_ilt SD.

bounties the linen trade langta -shed, but when tte sewers
noTv„...7.onoved,o,oiot,oboaod improvedpreari idly,
man.d the export ssa'eas
Lure of cambric for sale in glandw;T,h * f
before the
)removal of the duty on the import of
enth of the quantity of !The latter sold rtehnicreh, wolf; e!
e
now, that the duty no longs exists, it is sixteen times
greater than the French. litirhen a high
on the importation of foss sign flax into Inre•Tanedristehd-
quantity grown there was tot more than 24,000 tons,te
whereas after this protectic s was removed it increased.
to
38,000 tons per annul n . The machine spinnin
was only introduced in li.elland in 1829, many yearig.. after it had been in Great Britain, but it
had gone on increasing, and now numbered
312,000 spindles, and this had been in the face
of the immense capital,, cheap coals, and great
experience of England. Why, he asked, had the
linen trade increased? why had the manufacture of
cambric increased? why had the growth of flax
increased ? why had maeliii se spinning been carried
to such an extent ? Simply, because, without pro-
tection, the natural adapt ation of the climate, the
soil, and the habits of the people of Ireland were so
great for this industry, that it had prospered and
would continue to prosper. He complained of the
heavy restrictions in Spain, and the evil effects of the
contrabandista in the demoralization of her popula-
lation, He glanced at the other countries of the
wuernedredommpeilltll
hcontinent, and conclud(ul by observing that one
eihndanast to
if
their linensc facritheyaenwpeople of western Europe
eebnreor.pmeromusittseudmto more for
them where they could b
He maintained that in whatever
eLasstevtained cheapest and best.
the system was
viewed, it would be found thateirt whancyl been productive
of the most hurtful effec•ts on the trade of each
country and the employment of the people.
Professor Ackersdyck, of the University of Leyden, engaged for some time the undivided attention
of the
a
whole assembly. After drawingcontrast
between the condition of Spain and Holland, to the
favour of the latter, he said that in Holland,
as in
England there were young Englanders, there
were old Hollanders and young Hollanders,
and it was the latter, the advocates of free trade, that
he represented, and that Holland kept equal pace with
the spirit of the age. These very principles, said the
Learned Professor, were advocated by me a quarter
of a century ago to the youth of our universities, and
the pleasure I feel in looking back to those days is
doubled when I now behold realised those very ideas.
M. De Brouckere here rose and announced to the
Congress that all the members of the present Belgian
Ministry were pupils of the Learned Professor who
addressed them.--(Prolonged applause.)
Professor Ackersdyck, alluding to the speech of his
colleague, Professor David, of Copenhagen, demon-
strated the advantages that Holland and Denmark
would derive from free trade, owing to their advanta-
geous position, and the effects of the same on the
amelioration and development that would ensue, both
physically and morally, on the labouring classes. The
modest, dignified, and chosen language of the pro--
fessor made this one of the most interesting speeches
of the day.
A Professor of the University of Liege made a
sh ortspeech in favour of free trade, and was followed by
Mr. Asher, of Berlin, who regretted that there ex-
isted a feeling in Germany which, founded on false
notions, regarded all Germans who advocated free
trade as inimical to the interest of their countr
fie
hoped, however, that that feeling
would y.
soon give
way to a better one.
Professor Walowski, the eloquent and talented ad-
vocate of Libre Echange in France, and who has
taken the effect of free trade on the condition of the
working classes into special examination, ascended
the tribune amidst loud cheers. (I regret that time
and space will not allow me to give you a satisfac-
tory idea of his address; to appreciate his flowing
eloquence he must be heard.) lam about to address
you, gentlemen, he said, on a most important sub-
ject--I might say almost the most important one—
the influence of free trade on the moral improvement
of the workmen; for that is the great aim that we
have in view, and free trade is the only means to
attain that end. We all, gentlemen, owe a word of
thanks to the member from the Rhenish provinces,
who instituted himself the representative in this
assembly of the working population. Dr. Bowring
has shown us in numbers a return of the in-
creased importation into England, but a deduction
may be withdrawn from it which has not been men-
tioned—who participated in this increase ? Was it
the wealthy lords of England ? No ; it was the
working population.—(Applause). And what greater
proof can be given of the advantages of the system
we advocate ? Centuries, for humanity, are but as
days, and I shall quote an incident of the time of
Francis L When the Swedish ambassador waited
upon that monarch, he asked his Majesty's pardon for
having to speak to him of so vile a thing as com-
merce. What a difference from the present day !
What are all the great questions of the moment but
the commercial interests of the community ? In exa-
mining the influence of free trade on the labouring
population—(l reject the word " classes"—classes
have become extinct—we are all fellow-citizens)--
(Loud cheers)—the first question that presents itself
is to appreciate the true mechanism of production and
distribution of riches. Whatever be the form in
which produce arises, there is an association of labour
to obtain that result. In former ages slaves did the
work, and received their rations like the brute beasts
of the creation. Liberty then stepped forth, and the
share in the production was given to the agent in the
shape of salary. I say salary, but it is but a passing,
and not a permanent term ; the day, though perhaps
distant, will come when the labourer will obtain his
share of the produce of his labour.—(Loud
cheers.) By the perfection of labour produce is
increased, and additional prosperity is the result, and
free trade is the great agent for effecting this result.
One great error of our adversaries is that they regard
labour as a compact masse, which ought to be equally
divided between nations, not capable of extension.
They act upon a false principle from the very begin-
ning. The domain of labour, on the contrary, is Mi..,
mited. Like the giant in the fable, it requires double
strength when it touches the soil. Protection lulls
the population to sleep in a false security, and pre,
vents the great mainspring of the human mind from
being brought into play. The greatest market thrown
open to produce will be found in the consumption by
those who were never intended to be deprived for ever
of the benefits of the earth. Providence did not in-
tend its blessings for any privileged portion ; all men
are called upon to share in her gratuitous gifts, and
this will be obtained by a reduction of price.
The
Learned Professor then entered into a lengthened, but
highly interesting demonstration of the effect of pro-
tection on the natural instruments of labour, on capi-
tal, and on labour itself. He further stated that a
simple examination of the division of labour would
prove that the working population was (exploite)
made subservient to the ears of a small mi-
nority. The Governments are not aware of the atti-
tude assumed by the working population—the effect
of low wages and dear bread might be terrible.
Human labour was not to be regarded as merchan-
dize—the value of labour should be rewarded in
measure to the intelligence displayed. In America
the price of food is low, and the salaries are high. In
Ireland, on the contrary, prices were high, and sala-
ries were low. High price did not procure high
wages. The mensongerie chimerie of the Protectionists
e
fell to the ground. By the introduction of free ,_tra_Ll
labour would be in greater demand, the workman
would become more independent, and the ins "whilst
ufac-
turer would be obliged to seek the wore "
smanufax-
now the workman was obliged to seek
great work for
turer. 'We all put our hand to
°else servitude de
the abolition of slavery, and NN'as not the
follow the
la misere also a slavery ?
We
others what thou
divine maxim, "Do not unttoo
thee.. I regret that
wouldst not they should
do
unto
(M. Duchataux)
the Hon. Secretary for
Valenciennes
have liked a discussion
is not present, as I shoe
with him. Free trade, gentlemen, is a blessed fate-
lity, which cannot be eluded, and we may look for-
ward to the triumph of the justice of our cause.
(Loud and prolonged applause.)
As four o'clock was fast
on the list, M.
were many other names Brouckere
requested those gentlemen who had nothing new
to bring forward in the way of discussion, to resign
speaking.
Mr. Prince Smyth said, that after the brilliant
speech of M. Walowski, he should
not
address the
Congress. M. Horace Say and other members did
the same.
Mr. Wilson, Al•Ps then
and was again cheered. He regretted that he had
been detained from
attending the two previous
sittings. In a speech of some length, which was at-
tentively listened to (though he addressed the meeting
in English), the Hon. Member for Westbury proved
that the interests of labour were identical with those of
capital, that protection might for a moment raise an arti-
ficial price, but that the reaction that followed was only
the more disastrous ; that by competition, on the con-
trary, the circumstances
of the workmen were ame-
liorated, prices diminished, consumption expanded,
and export increased. The cotton, iron, woollen and
linen trades were respectively passed in review, to
illustrate the beneficial influence of free trade, and the
increased well-being of the working population.
M. Le Duc d'Harcourt had a few words to say in
reply to a reproach that had been made by a mem-
ber, that the working classes were not represented in
the Congress. The Hon. Gentleman had overlooked
the object of the present meeting, which was exclu-
sivelyldevoted to that class of the population, who had
little time to:spare to leave their work when they were
so usefully employed.—(Loud applause.)
M. dd Brouckere closed the Congress by some re-
marks in reply to M. Duchataux's speech of yesterday
and the four articles above alluded to being unani-
mously voted, with the solitary exception of M. Rit-
tinghausen, this Congress, which will take a memorable
place in the annals of history as the first step towards