The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-19

Win Sucn star u, NIOlOs, Jn0 programmes
of the Academy, the Metropolitan theatre, aud
all the other opera houses, sink into inter To-
significance.
Our Commercial Intercourse with France.
1t is not improbable that the attitude as
sumed by the American people in reference to
the pending war in Europe may lead the Empe-
ror of the French to pay closer attention than
heretofore to the commercial relations existing
between this country and France. The Preach
have not, it is true, exacted sy mpathy from rs
in as imperiuus tone as our British neighbors;
but still, they have shown in more ways than
one since the war began that they are not in
different to the opinion of the United States.
And it is by no means unlikely, as the French
are rapidly becoming practical people, that,
when they find our neutrality fixed fact they
will make some decent exertions to induce
state Of feeling here more in harmony wit
their hopes and wishes.
The task is not very difficult one. We
have few principles but many sympathies
in common with the French; and our ma
terial interests are closely united in many
particulars. There are more Americans living
in France than in any foreign country,
not excepting England; and for many years
the American residents Of Paris have cut quite
q figure. OF our exports of cotton about one
sixth goes to France. France took last year
about Ave millions of dollars worth Of -four
from this country. Over four hundred vessels
cleared last year from the United States for
France, greater number than cleared for any
foreign country except England, the British
the like number entered or ports from France.
We took from France during the same period
about Eve millions worth of wines, and ten mil
lions of silks of various kinds, not to allude to
minor articles. All this certainly constitutes
trade of quite important extent.
1t is susceptible of far greater development.
The population of France is nearly ten millions
greater than that of England; the French fac
tories are quite as skilful and as perfect % the
EDglish; and as large quantity Of manutac-
tured cottons are worn and might be exported
from France as from England. Yet France
only takes $4,000, 900 worth Of the raw arti-
Gle against $50, 100000 taken by Great Britain.
The reason is obvious it is admitted free into
England but is taxed on it's entry into France.
It is true that drawback is allowed on French
manufactured cottons exported, and that the
amount of this drawback is supposed to be
equivalent to the import duty. But it is OBJ
vious that no judicious man Of business would
lay out his money in paying duties to the gov
eminent with view to get it back again seve-
raj months afterwards; and besides. every one
who has done business with government OFF,
cials in any country knows that the trouble Of
claiming money from them costs more than the
amount obtained. We have no hesitation in
saying that in the present state of the French
law the regulation respecting the drawback is
. mere nullity; while the import duty on raw
cotton is enforced with the usual strictness, to
the grave injury Of the manufacturer and con-
sumner in France.
Again, there is in certain parts Of France,
especially the large cities, considerable de-
msnd for salt beef and pork. These are articles
which we produce in surplus, and export
largely. But hitherto the high duty in France
has prevented their introduction thither. Il
has usually been commended by the iuveterate
protectionists of the government that the
admission Of American beef and pork would
ruin the cattle grazers of Normandy. It hap
pens however in this case that the statement
cannot be sustained even by the obsolete logic
of protection for 20 far from initiating against
the native produce, our beef and pork would
never come into competition with them. To
them the fair fields Of Normandy, Paris and
fha NJ rsoh a. IN haaf nj @ba
barren spots, and overcrowded towns where
soupe n,aigre is the laborers' ordinary fare,
the navy, and the seaports. II the duty were
entirely removed, the cattle feeders would not
sell bullock the less or cheaper than at present
A more onerous provision OF the French COM
mercial system than either Of these is that which
regulates tonnage duties. Under this old Law,
which was intended to build up the merchant
navy Of France, end failed as all such laws are
sure to do, our vessels entering the French
ports are subject to tonnage duties nine times
higher than French vessels pay here. Re-
monstrances against this inequality have we
believe been long on file in the State Depart
ment ct Paris but hitherto nothing has been
done. Had VIC been fortunate enough to possess
an administration imbued with any thing like
energy, some steps would have been taken long
since: either our tonnage duties would have
been raised in the case Of French vessels, or
theirs would have been lowered upon ours.
We neither hope nor expect anything from
Mr.. Pierce and his Cabinet But the Emperor
Napoleon is man Of large experience and
practical mind. He will readily see, If be
gives his attention to the subject, that the re-
forms we have indicated would not only be
practically beneficial to his own subjects, bat
would exercise material influence on the tenn
per Of the American peonle toMards France