The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-10-07
THE FRENCH REsTRIcTtyEsYsTEM

| THE EFRENCE RESTRlCIlVESYS
Although part of the French restrictive
system has been directed against the impor-
talon of foreign corn, yet French agriculture
does not appear TO have derived any benefit
whatever from such protection. 1t is inferior
to that of most European countries, and has,
in fact, scarcely improved at all since the
time when Arthur Young described it, i'm
mediately before the first Revolution
Whilst the average produce Of wheat per acre
in England ranges from 90 to 30 bushels, or
about % bushels for the kingdom, the average
produce for the whole kingdom Of France is
under IA bushels per acre. tieqs 4, ,J-
France, of all countries in Europe" says
Mr.. Macgregor, Should produce so cheaply
as to have no pretence for restricting the i'm
portaton of foreign corn. Notwithstanding
this undoubted fact, a Committee Of the
Chamber of Deputies reported in 1882, that
" if we admitted the food and raiment and
metals and colonial and other objects which
strangers would bring to our ports, we might
probably gain some hundreds of millions,
should we be the richer in consoquence?--
for the riches Of state are in the elements
of labour, and when labour fails to find en-
ployment, misery is reproduced. And it is
not only question of comfort, but one of
existence; for if @heat 'rere Introduced ,cith-
out duty from the Baltic or Black Sea, our
maritime shores ,pould remain uncultipated,
and the effect Of a ruinous competition wouId
affect more and more nearly the ,chole of our
agricultural population" This is an extraor-
dinary confession on the part Of the repre-
sentatives of great people. They declare
that France, with her soil so especially we'll
adapted for the raising of corn; with heI
scientific and agricultural skill; with an in
dustrious farming population; and with the
expense of freight and other charges, equal
at least to 90 per cent? of the value of corn,
is incapable of competing with the Baltic and
Black Sea corn-grower. s.5 ~. .
g The French agriculturist has, however
to contend against areal and most oppressive
disadvantage; that is, the high price of iror
required for making ploughs, harrows, anG
other agricultural instruments. By estimates
much under those made by the late Due dc
la Rochefoucault and others, Of the annua
wear Of the iron of ploughs and Of harrow'
in France, and calculating the difference be
tween the average prices, for ten years, o
iron in that kingdom, and the prices at which
for the same period, English iron would have
been sold and delivered in France, (if no
restricted by high duties,) we find that by ;
very moderate calculation the agriculture o
that kingdom is taxed forty millions of francs
annually, to maintain the proprietors of iror
mines and foundries, and the proprietors 0
woods used in making charcoal. M. Annison
an unprejudiced deputy, has estimated th
tax, in his Eramen dep Enquete sur les Fers
at 49,522,0 900 francs, or nearly two millions
sterling" ($9,400,1s0)
Here we find that for forcing the irol
manufactures, which never have thriVen il
France, nor ever will thrive by such means
the national agriculture is subjected to al
annual charge equal to two millions of pound
sterling; whilst that agriculture continues il
a most backward and unsatisfactory state
though forced in its turn by taxes upon fol
eign corn. This is the very result foretol
70 years since by Turgot, in whose word
will be found remarkable opinion, date
oath December, l773, Sur la Marque d.
Fers, deprecating protective iron duties, b
the most unanswerable arguments.-Edi,
Jurgh Reriew. faa' Aa4 a2.t43
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