The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1876-12-07
WHAT FR4gCE HAS ACCOMPLISHED
SINCE JHE PRUsSIAN VAR.


Mr.. Shaw Lefevre, VI. P, delivered an
address, in the course of which he said:
II cannot avoid remarking on one Of the
most extraordinary economic facts of
modern times, namely, the revival OF
France from the Tisfortunes and losses
entaiIed upon her by her war with Ger
many. Never did a country appear to
be more hOpeIessly crushed by the weight
of its losses and by the large indemnity
imposed upon her by the victors. But
she has borne her burden with herOism,
and has emerged from her difficulties
with an elasticity which has surprised
Europe. The contrast between France
and Germany at this moment is most re-
markabIe. The defeated, Inundated,
and plundered county is, apparently,
richer than ever. The victorious cOun-
try, the Pays de billiards. the recipients
of the indemnity, appears to be not only
none the richer, but absolutely poorer
for the transaction. The feverish excite
ment caused by the influx of so much
wealth has now given place to reaction
in which all commercial transactions are
involved; general gloom and distress per-
vades the country. In a recent comic
paper published at Berlin it was sug-
gested as a remedy for the general dis
trcss in Germany, as compared with
France that Germany should again de-
clare war against France, that it should
again march its armies to Paris, again
defeat those of France, but in making
peace, in lieu of imposing an indemnity
of 200, 900, 900 on France, it should agree
to paw that amount to the conquered.
+ Cheers and laughter. By this means
alone, it was humorously suggested,
would Germany secure to itself the pros
perity which France was enjoying.
What, then, is the economic explanation
of this great difference in the condition
of the tive Countries Why is it that the
loss of two milliards has not made the
one country poorer or the gain not made
the other country richer? Is not the
explanation to be found in this, that the
only source of wealth is production and
saving? The French people are the
most industrious and saving the world
contain. in no other country is wealth
/ so widely distributed. In none are the
habits of industry, economy and thrift
more universally exercised. After the
war these people, from the highest to the
lowest, met their losses by even greater
industry and greater economies than
ever. Now when they have retrieved
their losses and overcome their Difficult
ties, this habit is still continued. On
the other hand. the influx of money to
Germany led to a general expansion, not
only of trade, but Of the habits of living
Luxury of all kinds increased. Fool
hardy speculations multiplied, CnPro-
ductive employment was stimulated
In the subsequent collapse the people a:
whole have lost more than they gained
by the indemnity, while it is no easy task
to divert 50 much unPrOductive labor
into its old channel of pro iuctiCn
What is it that constitutes her strength
What is it that creates this universa
habit of thrift and industry? 1t cannot
I think, be doubted that the answer is t
he found in the wide distribution o
property. which is 50 distingu shing 1
feature of the French system. Cpwar'
of seven million persons own property il
land or houses, and of these five and
halt million are owners of agriculture
land. Upward of four millions Of per
sons own between them the public deb
of France. The passion for land has no
only created five millions of PEASANT pvc
prietors. the most industrious and thrift
people in the world, but it has sprea
through the whole population from tn
highest to the lowest, the feeling OF il
dividual ownership, the desire to becom
independent, and the habit OF thrift an
saving which enables them to becom
, So
, A MASS of 10000, 900 tons Of pur
solid, compact rock salt, located on q
I island oue hundred and eighty.hve fee
high, which rises from miserable Sc
; marsh on the route from Brasher to Ne
Iberia, up the river Teche, Louisiana,
one of the wonders Of the world. Ho
=, this island containing over three hui