The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-18
FRENCH PROSPERITY.

HOW POLITICAL STABILITY AFFECTS A coUN-
TRY's PRoDUCTIoN-soME INSTRUCTIVE FIG
UREs-THE RESULT OF HARD WORK.
From the Republiquc Francaise.i
One of the most painful conseQ uences Of the late
war with Germany that 1t imposed upon France
increased taxation of 900 (sl4O O00).
1t has been the duty and glory OF the Republic to try
and wipe out this debt and the writer states that
within the last four years has been found possible
to repeal some of the most obnoxious taxes. and
this to the extent of more than e. 100000
($zo.0O0Oo0. The fact Of certain taxes producing
larger revenue than estimated permitted this ope-
ration. A report of the Minister Of Finance re-
Gently published shows that since the Revolu-
ton the revenue OF the soil has increased
($sO0, o0O.ooo eat the commencement OF 1872
new taxes were gradually imp osed; labor had
vived with real fnia traneese. and. taking every
thing into account the burden not too great.
1t was the same during the year 1873. II
compare these two years sees that the old
produced in the latter year about f3, 900
(S17 500 OO0j than In the former year. In 1873
too, the taxes exceeded the estimates by about
the same 500 900 Is 500 OOO)-and no doubt
but for political intrigues. the overthrow OF M.
Theirs and the projects OF q monarchical restora-
ton. the results would have been even favor
able. In 1874 during the reaction, matters changcd
the receipts fell OF. and instead of surplus of
177.ooo.ooof. 1895. 100000 as in 1873. there
1875 came brighter days, the constitution
voted. the Republic proclaimed, the country re-
covered liberty OF action the taxes produced
lao OO0, Q00f. (S2sO00.0J0 than they had done
during the preceding year. In 1876 the ascending
movement continued. but owing to external causes
the increase in the yield of the revenue was only
$4,000 OOof ($7,20o.0OO In 1877 the baneful in
huences of former years reappeared. There
general uneasiness. France pushed by the Due
dc Brogiie and his colleagues to the brink OF civil
war. and the consequence deficit of 9.00O. OOOf.
tS1,15O0OO). With 1873 came the dehnitive triumph
OF the Republic. aud once more the national pros
perity exhibited itself by of 75.0OU.00of.
tSl5,4OO,O00 over the estimates. This wonderful
development of wealth Is due to tho fact that
while dynasties consolidate themselves by military
gory-by war, which tramples harvests under loot
and which sweeps away the youth Of the country
republics repose upon labor. They prefer the noise
of the machine at work to that of squa the
march, and they know that each man laid low by
shell Is so much capital lost This is why at
other epoch has France produced much. Never
has her financial situation been 80 prosperous. As
tor the taxes, which have their origin in the last
crimes and foes of the Empire she will pay them
this that the public services have been starved
and that the brilliant financial results OBJ
tanned by the Republic have been pro-
cured by cheeseparing Far from that The
conservatives complain that the expenditure In reck
less aud that the number of persons employed by
the government has increased. and In fact the
sation IL true. The estimates have exceeded tho
sum OF f22.OO0OOO (Sl10.OO O0OO, without counting
eco 0OOOUO ($j0U. 00O,0 O0 expended since 1871 In
fortihcations, replcnishng arsenals and roarming
troops; officers PENSIONS the pay OF scrgeants and
the rations OF privaies have been increased Double
the amount IL spent on pubic instruction which was
spent under the Empire. IL Is the with public
works. and the of the poorer order the
clergy has not been pleaded In vain.