The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-06-09
The Progress Of France.

II is not surprising that the "mih-
isrv party so-called at Berlin should
be getting uneasy as to the chances
e the future, if France is to be re-
osrded still as the inevitable enemy
If Germany. That the object aimed
at by Prince Bismarck in inficting
mon the PROSTATE republic of 1871
the unexampled fine under the name
If an "idemnity" then exacted of
France was to hamper her resources
and delay the recovery of her power
offensive and defensive, nobody has
over so much as questioned. Prince
Bismarck then attempted to paralyze
France for the benefit of Germany
lust as Napoleon l., after Jena, had
paralyzed Prussia for the benefit of
France. Events have long since
proved that the policy of Napoleon L.
was mistake. 1t is hardly probable
that the policy of Prince Bismarck
will prove a success. So far as Prus-
sia was concerned, Napoleon I. very
thoroughly shattered and dismem-
bered her; but it was distinctly
against the public interests of Europe
in general and against the interests
Of Great Britain in especial that Ma
poleonic France should become the
irresstibly dominant power of Chris
tendon. 1t is just as. distinctly
against the public interests. of Europe
in general and Great Britain in par
ticular that Germany should in ner
turn become the irresistibly domi-
nant power of Christendom; and the
Emperor of Russia as all the world
knows has just signified this in q
perfectly unmistakable manner to the
court, army and people of Prussia at
Berlin. Meanwhile every day makes
it palmer that Prince Bismarck S
plan for paralyzing France was
wretched(y inadequate. The fnan-
cial reports of the first quarter of the
year 1875 have just been published
in Paris, and they afford the most
amazing evidences, not only of the
recuperative powers of France, but
Of the rapidity and the solidity with
which France is availing herself of
these powers. These reports Go not
show, indeed, that France is making
the immense preparations for imme-
date military action ofwhich so much
has recently been said in the warlike
portion of the Berlin press. On the
contrary, they indicate that France
is contenting herself for the present
with preparing, not war, but the
sinews of war. Instead of spending
her money in importing horses for
her army, she has been making money
by exporting horses. During the first
quarter of 1875 France imported
$3.50 head of horses and exported
1882, and this in face of the fact that
the war left France poorer in horses
by 100000 head in 1872 thap she
had been in 1866. Nor has she been
storing up forage, as she was charged
with doing, the French importations
Of forage during the first quarter of
1875 having been less in value by
100000 francs than during the
same period Of the year for eight
years past. But the foreign com
merce Of France on the whole is actu-
ally larger to-day than it ever before
has been in her history. She has not
merely recovered, she has gone hey
Ond the figure of her heaviest trans
actions under the empire. During
the first quarter of 1876 France ex-
ported no less than 976,OOO,OOO of
francs worth of her productions, or
in round numbers $20o,O00,000 in
gold, being at the rate Of $500, 0OQ,-
600, or 100000 Of francs a year.
During the year 1s69-70, the last
year of the empire, the expectations
of France amounted to 2,SO2, 100000
of francs, which indicates an increase
for 1876 of nearly 30 per cent, and
this in the face of the fact that by
the annexation of Alsace to Germa-
ny, France has lost since 1870 one of
her very richest manufacturing pro-
vinces. 1t would be difficult to find
in modern history SO astonishing an
Instance of the successful results of
national activity and energy in the
lace of the most distressing circum-
stances.
But the resources Of France are
not only producing more than they
ever produced before. They are
changing the form of their nroduc-