Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-03-01
France and free Trade.

about French wines is no doubt true; and i
is, indeed, disgrace to a commercial nation
to prohibit, by high duties, the use of bev
erage, pure, cheap, healthy-and a 9ittle
exhilarating. but hardly to be called in,oxi
caling-as the French light wines are, AND
drive its own citizens 10 nasty, narcotic
supplying, brntfying, adulterated liqcors
as IA portion of those so prodigally imbbed
by the English uotoriously are as, for e5'
ample, spurious wines, spurious bran les
spurious gin, and even spurious ale aud por-
ter. The last, when pure, are certainly re-
spectacle aud unexccptionable beverages,
but they are, like the resi-, subject to endless
soplstcation and counteritiing. Free trade
in French wines, or with small duty, would
do much in England towards correcting the
national taste with respect to liquor drink
ing as much, or more, than all the temper
ance and teetotal socielies-good things in
their way, but not as effective as making
pure beverages attainabI eat the same price
as bad, and which prove comparatively III
nocent.
The; unaninity of feeling with which the
English people demands Il war with Russia
will greatly facilitate the labors of the ap-
proachins session Of Parliament. The ma
ton has learned to dctest war, and the au.
thors of war but, with that innate common
sense which,inspires mankind in the mass, it
feels that the best way to end war Is to
carry it on vigorously. 1t is quite certain
that the nation will begrudge no sacrifice to
restrain and punish the Russian aG5ressor,
aud TO maintain the national dignity aud
honor, as we'll as the equilibrium Of Europe.
In prosecuting the war, the Ministers will
have no internal difficulties to contend with.
The necessary funds will be chcerfully vo-
ted, and as cheerfuly paid: and the high.
est houors that the country can bestow will
be layished upon the Admirals who shall
destroy the Russian fleets in the Euxine and
the Baltic. At such Il time aud with a
task before it, the nation will scarcely ex.
pect the Ministry to make any fiscal expert
ments, unless with the object of increasing
taxation. Although such brilliant success
has attended the commercial policy OF the
last seven years, and although the results of
MIR. Gladstuue's admirable Budgct'of 1853
might well justify him in proposing azturther
extension of free trade principles iIflS54, it
is probable that the nation will have to wait
for more tranquil times for the abolition of
the many ilnpulltic taxes that still operate,
iniuriously upon the trade, the health and
the morals of the people. Yet, even at such
a crisis, it may be wise to make some excrp
lions in favor of the nations with whom we
arc at peace. A Russian war will not
greatly interfere with our commerce, and
any fiscal relaxations that shall tend to IN.
crease our trade with friendly or allied states
may enable US TO bear with g'eater ease the
war burdens that will necessarily be laid up
on U.S.. For the first time in their history,
Great Britain and France are cordially unl-
ted upon question OH which the sympalhles
and GOOD wishes of the whole civilized world
are with them. Free trade has answered
so well with US, that the French Emperor
already more than half a convert-medl.
tates its introduction into France. The
French nation is not SO we'll informed us its
chief; but Louis Napoleon has lost no op-
porlunity that even presented itself to him
of introducing the wed ye Of sound policy
into the dense block Of protection. The
reduction of the duties on iron and coal is
strong proof Of what he would do it the
French nation were sufficiently enlightened
to support and follow linn. If one thing
more than another has strengthened the pro.
teclionist error in France, and kept up u
spirit of commercial hostility towards this
country, it has been the heavy imposts which
Great Britain has laid upon French wines.
France, though an agricultural country,
grows no more corn than she needs; but
She produces the best, the most abundant.
and the cheapest wines in the world. 1t is
no exaggeratun to say that she could send
to this country an almost limitIess supply.
But unwise Legislation has forbidden the
English the use OF the wholesome beverage.
Had we traded with France for her wines,
as we might have done, both nations would
not only have been better friends, bat each
would have been richer; and the English
peuple would not have incurred the reproach
of being, next to the Scotch, the most drunk
people under the sun. There can, we think
be scarcely doubt that the admission o
French wines into this country, either free
or at a nominal duty, would help to con-
vince the French people Of the firm friend
shin of England Such Il measure wonlt
prove to them the excellence OF iree:trade
far better than any which their own Empe
ror can adopt. a duty of 300 or even 40t
per cent, which is levied upon the excelen
rin ordinaire-which the French merchants
could deliver in the Thames, all charges in
cluded, at tivepence or sixpence bottles
a disgrace to US as commercial nation
The prohiLilion-for such it is-has done
as much to estrange. the two countries as al
the battles that they ever fought agains
each other; and its removal at this time
when common cause unies them agains
the tisturber OF the peace of the world, woul'
add moral force to their efforts, aud operat
us heavy blow against the Car as an ad
ditional fleet or army. Experience has am
plv shown that the abolition OF unwise taxa
ton is no ultimate loss to the revenue
What we lose under one item is compensn
ted under another Two such great an
wealthy nations, separated from each othe
only by few miles of sea, ought to hav
traded more and fought less. They woul
assuredly have done so, had we been com
mercially as wise in 1889 as we were i
ls46. Our own experience has been tardy
France still lays behind US, but her preser
eheif magistrate shows. when ever he cal
that he has not studied in vain the reeer
/. history of this country. 1t is not from an
Il L Ii