The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-05-16
RATE OF SUBSCRIPTIONS.
FsEsoH swIG os..r4H FaEH TRADE

QURsTIoN.@When England hrst ap-
preached France through Canning with
invitations to free, trnde policy, the
French minister replied in Language as
compact as it is comprehensive; ex-
haustlng the whole subject in practi-
cal point of view; and applying as faith
fully to America as to. France. This is
what he said: - - IL - .=P.s-
"If England, in tile progressive state
of her industry, admits foreign compe7
tition more extensively than formerly,
such policy is in conformity with her
well-understood interest; bnt it is the
we'll interest of France now
to grant to her own manufactures, 7of
which the development is syetimpertect,
the protection which is still indispensa-
BILE for them. When the time Shal ar
rive that foreign competition shall pc
useful for French industry, France VIII
not fail to avail herself of the present
example of England"
Since this was written, France has
reached such stage of progress and
perfection in her industry. as to make it
for her interest, as for England's, to
put in practice the general principles OF
international free trade. Americas time
will also come in due season, if u. rea-
sonable degree of present protection is
maintained. Meantime, we are really
CARRYING on free trade, in its highest
and broadcast sense, and over a greater
area of territory, having larger variety
of climate and interest and production,
thnn any other government on the face
of the globe. Let the free trade theo-
rists broaden their vision, and be less
dogmatic and impatient In their de
mnnds. The millennium is coming,
though not quite in their way. a. ls -
=, -s-------. -. & ca
THE ENeLIsn COAL FIELDs.-John
Stuart Mill lately urged in the British
House of Commons a more rapid prog
ress In paying off the national debt,
and in the course of his speech he re-
marked as follows on the probable coal
supply of England:
I hope there are many honorable
members in this House who are ac-
.ouainted with a small volume written
by Mr.. Stanley JeVOns, entitled Ihe
Coal Question:" and 1t appears to me
that Mr.. Jevons' treatment OF the SUD
iect is almost exhaustive, for he seems
to have anticipated everything which
it is possible to be said against the con-
'clusion at which he has arrived, and TO
have answered it; and that conclusion
is, that if the present rate of consump-
tion of coal continues, three generations
ut the most, or very possibly consid-
erably shorter period, will leave no
workable coal nearer to the surface
than 1000 feet.in depth; and that the ex-
pense of raising it from that depth Will
entirely put it out of the power of the
country TO compete in manufactures
with the richer coal fields of other coun-
tries. L think, then, that if there be
any one inithis House or out of IL, who
knows anything which will invalidate
these conclusions of Mr.. Jevons, 1t will
be right of him to come forward and
make it known. have myself made
various attempts to answer Mr.. Jevons,
but must say that every one, admit
ting the truth of everything said, has
only made out that our supplies will
continue a few years longer than Mr..
Jevons has assigned. In fact, 1t has
now come to this, that instead of being
at liberty to suppose that future gener-
aIions will be more capable than we are
ourselves of paying off the national
debt, not any beyond the present gen,
Grafton and the one or Two which Will
follow, will have the smallest chance OF
ever being able, to pay it off.