The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-02-09

4 ~U0Csv10x1oENU0Ur TX16x fUfI0T
Not leo Umarkn0lo than the sudden chanxd
10 0reae DritaiAsffoA highly restrictive r.
comparative ire trade, 10 the auso0nce1nsat
Of the ~ nseaa policy Of France n 20
country = the civilized world has commsrte
beea subjected 70 such restrictions ~ In
fr1nce. Its domestic policy has been an ex-
clasively protective one-every imported arti-
| Gle taxed, and most Of its branches OF trade
| monopolies. The tariff Of 1891 laid under
heavy duties nearly all the great supple man.
ufAcsures OF other countries. The importation
| Of iron Of certain stses was prohibited, wool.
| len yarn was not allowed to b imported, mo.
lasses was not permitted 70 be introduced,
| neither refined sugar nor rock salt. The pro.
hibitions extended, not only to all articles
manufactured from the metals, fabrics Of
wool, Of cotton, silks, tissues of hair, saddle
~, tobacco, but even down to the raw mate
rails in many instances and articles of actual
necessity. This was the first Napoleon's sys-
tenn, who wished to make France independent
of Great Britain, the acknowledged commC--
cial mistress Of the world, and who could con-
ceive no better plan Of doing SO than fostering
every branch Of industry at home, NO matter
at what sacrifice. Prohibitions to foreign
impor tations and bounties upon the exporta-
ton Of domestic produce, were the means en-
ployed to promote these ends.
The effect of this mistaken policy has been,
Of course, to leave France in her commerce
far behind Great Britain, especially since the
the latter has adopted q system the reverse
Of this narrow and anti-commercial policy
The commerce OF England has nearly quad
rupled, and her shipping doubled, in the last
Atty years. France has added, in the same
time, about one ffftieth to her foreign COM
merce. The change from this system Of COM
mercial restriction to one in which all these
unwise distractions to trade are to be removed
is most important one, not only for the in
terests Of France, but tor those of the rest OF
the commercial world. The Emperor sees the
effect when he pronounces the following
truths:
"For long time this truth has been pro-
claimed, that the means of exchange must be
multiplied to render commerce hourshing:
that without competition industry remains
stationary and main tains high prices, which
are opposed to the progress of consumption;
that without a prosperous industry, which
develops capital, agriculture itself remains in
before developing our foreign commerce by
the exchange of produce. it is necessary to i'm.
prove our agriculture, and to liberate our in
dustry from all in ternal impediments which
place it in conditions of interiority. AT the
present day not only are our great enterprises
impeded by host OF restrictive regulations
but even the welfare of those who work is far
from having attained the development which
II has attained in neighboring country
Ihere Is, therefore, only general system of
good political economy which can, by creating
national wealth, spread comfort among the
working classes"
These words show that the Emperor is about
TO place the industry and enterprise of France
on the foundation of q sound political econo
my. Great Britain already anticipates great
increase to commercial intercourse with
France, and looks forward to supplying her
with cotton, hardware, earthenware copper.
tin, iron, receiving in return her chief supply
Of grain, capable Of being doubled in France
by careful farming, while the supply of grain
from the United States is every year growing
less. The change ofpolicy will also impart
new life to the commercial transactions be-
tween France and the United States. Cotton.
tobacco and rice relieved from taxation must
be imported into that country in greater |
quantities. The cotton imported into France |
in the raw state amount to nearly TWEEN ty mil |
lions of dollars, though subjected to duty of |
two cents per pound Tobacco, Of which the |
exclusive right to purchase exists in the Gov |
reached an importation Of 4OS66 600 |
pounds in 1855. Besides these articles of /
domestic produce, hops, fish, pot and pearl |
ashes are exported from the United States for
France. In return we received wines brandes
silks, olive oil, jewelry, and few manufactur-
ID cotton goods. The cotton manufactures in
France keep in employment 355, 600 workmen.