The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-19 00:00:00

THE FRENCII COMMERCIAL SYSTEM.

We bear of great rejoicings at Bordeaux and
other towns in consequence of the Emperor's letter
on the new commercial reform ; of addresses pre-
sented to the Prefects by delighted merchants ;
and of deputations coming up to Paris to thank the
Emperor in person for the groat and beneficial
policy he has inaugurated. The Protectionists, on
the other hand, are in great dismay ; they, of course,
predict that the downfall of their own monopoly will
be followed by the downfall of the prosperity of all
France. Among the strongest opponents of the re-
form is, it appears, M. \Valewski, probably because
he knows little about the question. There may be
something also in the fact that nobody thought of
consulting him ; he remained ignorant of the mea-
sure to the last moment. The opposition he can no
longer offer in the Cabinet he gives in the Privy
Council, of which he is, as you are aware, a mem-
ber of 100,000 f. power. M. Troplong is on the same
side ; but M. Troplong is a prudent man; he will
not push his opposition to a dangerous point. It
will probably be carried on long enough to make
his conversion, particularly where the agent of con-
version is the Emperor, a graceful sacrifice to feel-
ing. Notwithstanding M. Magne's hostility, few
believe that he will sacrifice his portfolio on the
altar of Protection.
The Opinion Nationale, which had remained
silent the first day, now expresses itself in these
terms :

" The first effect of the publication of the pro-
gramme will be to cast itito the shade the Italian
question and the Papal affair, which up to this day
have almost exclusively occupied public attention.
As to the Papal question, the legitimist crusade of
most of the French bishops, even though reinforced
by the unexpected co-operation of some repentant
liberals, will have no other result than to place in
evidence the absolute impuissance of the clergy,
whenever they abandon the sanctuary and are so
ill inspired as to enter on the domain of politics."
Our contemporary then enters more particularly
on the subject of the proposed changes :
" Among the measures enumerated, some are
di s'ined to obtain universal appiobation. The.
suppression of all duties on raw materials is one
of them. Nor will the successive reduction of the
duties on sugar and coffee raise any objection. It
will Ije a benefit for the consumer without being
a sacrifice for the Treasury, which will be rapidly
indemnified by the progress of consumption. We
may say the same of the amelioration in the ways
of communication. The suppression of prohibitions
and the substitution of protective duties is an ex-
cellent measure which cannot excite any serious
objection. We remark that the Emperor has very
properly taken care not. to allow himself to be led
by his wishes for reform into the field of free trade.
That expression, which implies the idea of a sudden
and radical reform, alarms interests, and has a re-
volutionary appearance, not agreeable to capitalists,
who on the faith of the ancient tariffs have engaged
in the branches of manufacture which are menaced.
Free trade would besides give rise to endless objec-
tions and interminable discussions, as always hap-
pens when two hostile and absolue principles are
in presence. The suppression of prohibitions, on the
contrary, cannot occasion any reasonable objection.
Prohibition is a sort of Chinese wall raised around
the manufactures of a country, and our manufac-
tures have no need of one."

After a series of running comments oa the measures
to be introduced, the article concludes in the follow-
ing favourable language :
"On the whole, we believe that the publication
of the Imperial programme will bring back public
opinion to questions which have been too much
neglected for some months Fast, and will open a
profitable field to national activity. We shall, how-
ever, have to point out to the Government some
measures which we regret not to see figure in the
programme, and which in oar opinion would hap-
pily complete it." _ _

The Union also, which had held back, now allows
its views to be divined, but more from the manner
in which it speaks of the opinions of the other jour-
nals than by frankly avowing its own. It says :
"In presence of those modifications, and the
uncertainty which still veils their application, the
most resolute opinions hesitate and halt. Such,
at least, is the impression left on our mind by
the perusal of the journals of every colour which
appeared this morning. The Constitutionnel de-
clares that it would be difficult for it, after a first,
reading, to attempt an examination of the Empe-
ror's letter, and it will not at present look at the
foundation of things.' This reserve is singularly
remarkable. Will it be explained by the hesitation
which is imposed on the Constitutionnel by its
well-known protectionist doctrines—doctrines
which the new programme would interfere with so
strongly that our contemporary would require at
least time to examine its new position and bring
about so delicate a conversion ? The Debats has
scarcely need to point out the most important pas-
sages of the letter. It nevertheless shows that,
while relying on victory for its free-trade theories,
it fears that the triumph will not be so prompt as it
could have wished, and as the English journals had
led it to hope. We avow that we have not very
clearly seen what the Debats thinks it has here
perceived, but that doubtless is the fault of our at-
tachment to the protective regime."
After noticing the language of some of the other
journals, the writer comes to the Siecle, and seems
there, above all, struck by the quotation of the
Latin verse which closes its article. It goes on to
say : _

The Neele quoting Louis XVIII! that is a
triumph of tit novel kind for the Restoration. It
is however only justice justice rendered to the
wisdom, at once liberal and conservative, which
sufficed in so few years, and in the midst of so
many difficulties, to repair the disasters of France,
to create credit, restore the finances, and raise pub-
lic prosperity to a height which it has never since
exceeded. For our part, it is to those traditions
of generous tut prudent progress that we hold with
more energy than ever. We shall study with
scrupulous care, with moderation, but with all the
candour of language which such great interests re-
quire, the numerous and vast problems started by
the new programme. As jealous of defending the
true and wholesome doctrines of social economy as
of accepting legitimate ameliorations, we shall
point out what would appear perilous for the pub-
lic fortune, adventurous for our industry and na-
tional labour, and shall point out the real wants of
our agriculture and credit as well as the reforms
required or wished for by the conditions of modern
society."
The Univers, which had not made any observa-
tion on the new programme, now does not even go
the length of the Union, as it merely sneers at the
unpleasant predicament in. which the Constitu-
tionnel is placed with its protective tendencies :
" The Constitutionnel," it says, " which up to this
day has energetically supported the ideas and in-
terests of the Protectionists against all that even
hinted at free trade, feels some embarrassment in
presence of the Emperor's letter. It contents itself
with declaring that the letter is an event of the
most important kind. No one doubts the result of
the examination which the Constitutionnel is about
to undertake. Its conversion will assuredly be en-
tire and complete."
The Debuts also has a fling against the Protec-
tionist journal, which on this occasion reminds one
of the position of Ivanhoe in the lists of Ashby-de-
la-Zoueh, where the various combatants dash against
him at the same time from the most opposite quar-
ters, and without any previous concert. The fol-
lowing is the language of the Debuts:—
" The Constitutionnel has not yet arrived at the
point of knowing what its opinion is ; it is absorbed
in reflection, and is preparing, we hope, for a change
of opinion which, if effected, will be the most
curious of all those which it has undergone. The
Constitutionnel becoming a Freetrader could really
only be compared to St. Paul stricken on the road
to Damascus by a sudden light. We know not yet
if we shall have the happiness to see this miracle.
The renstitutionnel confines itself to saying that
more than one reading will be necessary to attempt
the examination of the Emperor's letter,' and it
contents itself with admiring it in general."
On its side, the Constitutionnel publishes an
article of several columns on the new system, de-
claring that it opens a vast field for examination.
On the point of conveying goods the write r says :
"But it is not sufficient to take off the duties on
raw materials ; it is not less necessary to find means
to cause them to arrive cheaply at places where
they are to be employed. That is particularly true
as regards coal, which now plays so great a part in
the manufacturing system of all nations. The