, 1874-08-08

pTOuuC0 III AUUuUu CuOoPOA W = % AO~" pa
cwt. than the price it would command in Paris
is surely convincing. The continuance of the
present state of things for another year would
be nothing short of a calamity to the sugar
producing colonies. France has perSistently
evaded the essential provisions of the Con-
vention, and now, with a rare consistency, a
plea is put forward that nothing can be done
to carry out the real object OF that Treaty until
the Treaty itself has expired. This action of
the French Government has naturally evoked
from English sugar importers a most earnest
and indignant protest. If refining in bond IS
admittedly the best remedy for a fully re-
recognised evil, it ought to be established at
once. The beetrOot sugar industry has grown
up into one of the most highly protected in
dustries in the world, and the British colonies,
after long years Of anxious struggle against
the slave-Iabour productions Of Cuba, Porto Ri
co, and Brazil, now find themselves in addition
forced into an unequal competition with this
vast protected sugar industry on the Continent.
What is to be done, supposing the French Gov
eminent will not carry at once into practice the
only ~effectual remedy for the grievance The
answer is plain aud obvious. 4 duty must be
put upon refined sugar imported into the United
Kingdom from the Continent, equivalent to the
bounty which that sugar enjoys, so as to place
British and foreign sugar in the English market
upon terms of perfect equality. This is the on
ly practical way Of dealing with the question,
the only mode Of settling it in oonSonance with
the principles of free trade. Free trade con-
siSts in fair play to all-it consists in the alb
sence of unnecessary and artificial restrictions;
1t does not consist in giving the oyster to be
swallowed by the foreigner and reservlng
the slell for home consumption. It will hard
ly be believed that in addition to the bounty IT.
self, there is actually a protective duty In
France against the importation into that country
of English refined sugar. The importer or refner
in England does not ask for a protective duty,
but for an essentially free trade measure, so that
he may have a fair chance and an equal, honest,
and legitimate competition. Nothing Is wanted
aud nothing is asked for but bare and simple
justice, and the due maintenance of British IN
terests against a gigantic monopoly founded ex-
clusively upon a principle Of protection. There
is a strong claim upon the present Government
to do this act of Justice, and it is not unreasOna-
Bile to expect that they will honour such a de.
mand. 1t is shallow and -pecious reasoning to
say that the English consumer benefits by the
artificial cheapering of sugar. No doubt he
buys his sugar at a little less cost for the time,
but when the British industry is ruined and
the consumer in this country is placed entirely
at the mercy Of a foreign monopoly, what consl-
deration can he expect? In the long run he
will have to pay much dearer for his food.
A great deal more might be said upon this
subject, but sufficient has been advanced to
show the serious character of the question and
what it really involves. The colonies are be-
ginning to see how deeply they are interested in
it.. Barbados has already spoken out withno
uncertain sound. Other important colonies are
stirring in the matter. Petitions to Parliament
are being extensively signed in Jamaica in con-
sequence of the e~xertions of Mr.. Bancroft
Espeut, one of the most intelligent and enter
priSiug planters in that colony. Mr.. Espeut
has been at the pains of collecting the most
striking facts in connection with the subject
and his published letters, as we'll as the petit
ton which he has ably drawn, must commend
themselves to the warm approval Of all who are
concerned in the prosperity of Jamaica-an ISL
and so glorious in its scenery, SO healthy in its
climate, and so full of natural wealth that it is
deeply painful to see its progress retarded by
a want of proper appreciation by the mother
country, and by the intorposition of purely ar
tifcial difficulties.
The subject of emigration from Malta to
Jamaica has been frequently discussed in this col
umn. The advantages of such a system are
recognised by the Home Government as well as by
the Jamaica and Malta authorities. The Coun-
Gil of Jamaica has embodied the necessary regu-
lations in a law. and nothing annarently remains