The New York herald., 1868-05-30
FRANCE.

The Free Trade Question In the I.egisIature-
Protection ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Depres.
sion at the Manufacturing Centrcs--inAu.
ence on Finance-Lessons from the United
Stutes.
The French Legislative Body met on the 10Th OF
May M. Schneider in the chair. The order the day
was the discussion the interpretations relative to
the results OF the present commercial system In
France.
nj. KoLB-BERSARD said:-The sovereign question
OF the national industry is involved in this discus
sion. The situation s most serious one and is the
result OF both material ana moral causes. The ex-
tent Oh the disaster Is shown by the lowness OF prices
py the suspension OF labor and by the depreciation Of
immobnlzed capital. which often represents the en-
tire fortune OF the manufacturer Those dlminutions
amount TO from twenty to twenty-five per cent in the
resources OF the great centres OF industry especially
at Roubaix, where the Chamber Of Commerce estl.
mates the loss at not less than ooof The sum
OF O0of lying unproductive in the bank eel
lars q an eloquent PROOF OF ,rbfcb
2draIvses trade 10 insist further on the extent Of
done Ia to seek out the origin of II and 70 annv %
remedy. Among the causes must be mentioned in
the first place q want Of stability Progress is M
doubt, the glorious law Of humanity when n ad' AZ
vances with prudence, at the same time Improving
and preserving; but there is another kind Of pro-
Qress, that which marches forward, armed with
some Utopian idea dsdaining experience, pursuing
amidst ruins the most dangerous Innovations and
WINCH c0uIOuUus hklthtiOu Will iuONenent ana sta
bility with stagnation. Other causes OF the same
nature have contributed to the embarrassment In the
financial situation which s rendering necessary In.
creased taxes, and Is even impeding the action OF
free trade itself The first condition or commercial
liberty u that the country should be governed
chedptv. Switzerland. Belgium and England sue
ceed In certain measure In increasing every yeal
their revenue and In diminishing their charges Arc
we In such a position Our outlay is augmenting
IKE our taxation, and especially our Dluttdr1
expenditure. We are at this moment IN pe1j0t
W scarcity or Jood The honor of having attenu
s,ea the crisis Is claimed for the new prin
Sipies. Admit that the corn trade has prOntet
al uhlorvunate mutual dependence, have we not
!eit the enects OF the distress which prevails among
tnem, anu mas not cur own been increased by thS
competition OF foreign products on our markets
Tnis SITUATION IL not an exceptional one but is the
RUE. Inc cohsequence OF the dangerous theory OF
branch OF industry, which, being placed I'm Iees
favorable conditions not able 10 s,nnort fore0n
competition. Each nation Is supposed tn excei In
some class OF manufactures by their perfecton and
low price, and those held to be her share 81
duction In the universal republic Of free trade I'm,
each country is to increase the sources Of It's wealth
and by that means the guarantees OF its independ
enceS Are there not some branches Of industry
for example those OF tissues and OF iron, which
are absolutely necessary to all nationsf This sys
TEN OF competition, which ends In free trade, Il
subject TO many necessities. II requires cheaI
labor, large capital, costly machinery, anI
can be made; also large consumption and market
at homo and abroad Those conditions also exist 70
foreign nations which are likewise pursuing thei
realization. Yet have we succeeded In lncreasin
the material welfare OF the nationf Far from that
for distress was never greater and more general