The Sun.
London, England, 1860-03-03 00:00:00

ment ought to protect its industry in an interest ex-
clusive of the manufacturers, and to preserve a
monopoly at the expense of the consumers of the
country ? Far from that, the country has quite a
contrary duty to perform, for the only means of deve-
loping the public fortune, and improving the condi-
tion of all, is to succeed in reducing as much as
possible the price of the objects of general consump-
tion. Wages high in appearance are for them but
a relative advantage. These are only advantageous
inasmuch as they can earn them at a rate in some
degree corresponding vith the objects necessary
for their existence. _ _ _

" To attain this object it is useful that industry
be sufficiently stimulated in the interior by foreign
competition, and that the protective duties
should be regulated on the strength of those
who are at the head of our industry, and not
on the weakness of those who lag behind. These,
I believe, are the true principles. Nevertheless,
this theory finds its limits in positive calculation.
The price of every manufactured article is always
composed of the same principal elements—the
price of the raw material, the cost of manufactur-
ing, and that of transport.
" Our workmen are as skilful as foreign work-
men. What constitutes our inferiority is the high
price of the raw material and means of transport.
Well, then, these are precisely the two obstacles
which the Emperor meant to remove, while re-
maining is the just measure of protective prin-
ciples.
" I find also in the Emperor's letter to his Minis-
ter of State a passage which I am happy to submit
to you. Here it is .
" Our agriculture must be improved, and our
industry freed from the internal impediments
which keep it in a condition of inferiority. At
this day it is obstructed by a number of restrictive
regulations. In fact, the spirit of our codes, of our
laws, was principally directed to prevent abuses,
and by dint of pursuing them it has succeeded in
impeding their use. This is the most important
reform to obtain. There is no true prosperity but
with entire civil liberty, and if our country has
never known how to use with moderation political
liberty, it is because it had not begun to enjoy the
benefits of the first:
" Let us express our desire also that the irrita-
tion recently exciied in the interior will calm down
and cease to disturb the minds of our population.
The conscientious search of a purely political solu-
tion, ought it to excite complaints so bitter ? The
members of the clergy, whom an excessive zeal has
drawn on, have forgotton the services rendered to
religion by the Emperor, and also, perhaps, the
lessons of the past. When the people had before
them but the humble and charitable pastor who
translated for them the sublime morals of the Gos-
pel, this gentle civilisation of the heart, preaching
love for your neighbour, the pardon of injuries,
the disregard of worldly advantages—then, indeed
his faith gets fortified. But when the priest,
forgetful of his character, borrows mere worldly
arms, and intrudes on civil and political interests,
suddenly the Gallican susceptibility is roused, and.
the religious spirit losses all that the spirit of civil
and political independence gains, and which forms
the fund of public opinion in the country.
" Let us unite our efforts, gentlemen, to restore
calm to the public mind, and to give to industry
the confidence it needs for its development. Let
us aid the Emperor in his liberal measures; let us
second his projects; let us vote with eagerness the
laws relating to these economical questions, and let
us resolutely enter with him on a new era of peace,
progress, and liberty."
The Courrier de la Gironde says :—" One of the
first bills which will be presented to the Legislative
Body will be that relative to the great lines of
transatlantic packets. As we have already said,
the new company which will have the concession
of the line is fully and legally organised ; it has
fulfilled all the conditions of the cahier des charges,
and only waits for the sanction of the Legislative
Body and the Senate to commence operatiuns."
THE BOURSE, March 2.—The market was heavy
at the opening, but prices have since rallied. The
liquidation of the shares has been done at easy
terms. Threes, after having been done at 67f 80c,
are now at 68f. Mobilier varied from 736 f 25e to
745 f; Orleans, 1,370 f to 1,375 f ; Northern, 917 f
50c to 922 f 50c ; Southern, 500 f to 502 f 50c. The
following are the last quotations :-
41 per Cents. .... 97 90 Credit Fonder 70
Do. end month I Belgian 4} , —
3 per Cents 6B Piedmontese (5) .. 79 75
Do. end month 67 95 Roman BO
Bank Shares Austrian
Credit Mobilier .. 748 75 Spanish Threes
Do. Account 746 25 Home Debt 431