New-York tribune., 1885-01-04
question that this is great and growing evh
II must be dealt with in radical fashion.
PROTECTION IN FRANCE.

Tho Tariff Committee has reported to the
French Chamber of Deputies that " the prices
v of French products are not regulated by the
q cost Of production, but by the maximum price
q sohtoirahle for cereals from India and America,
q urbicb could he sold nj 5 or francs per cent
uer under the usual prices. and are cohse
u ouentlv able to bear duty of francs without
q anv resulting rise in prices" Apparently the
committee is trying to support measure ..
protection by free-trade reasoning. pu'
nerhaps the cable dispatch misrepresehts the
report of the committee, and 1t was ihtenueu
TO convey the idea that the proposed ou.y
would not raise the cost of grain III france aoo'c
the usual average price i'll that country
dutv of francs to the ccntuer, ii by the centuer
"a meaut 11OL pounds, would be equivalent TO
ala cents Der bushel. London is buying
wheat at 90 cents II France wants any OF the
same wheat, 1t will cost consumers with the
duty 81 27lo cents per bushel, pror'ded INC
withdrawal of the French domand docs not
depress the price in this country or In lndia'
But it Is not at all improbable that the uu'y
would have that effect, thus compelling pro-
ducers elsewhere to bear part OF the duty
exacted by France for the privilege OF selling
in that market If so, the French consumer
would not pay the whole of the sum paid 10 tne
Government: n part of it must in effect Dc
contributed by American or other producers.
In the light of this illustration, people OF this
country can see that they do not pay the entire
revenue of our Government. Cuoa ana Drazh
nav part in the sale of their products at low
prices in order to sell Mt all In TINS Market I;
England, France and Germany pay part, IN the
depression of prices of manufactured articles.
But let it be supposed that France has I'M
nosed the duty, and has thus encouraged a
remarkable development of agriculture. Let IL
be supposed that many millions of capital have
been invested in bringing farms to high state
of productiveness, that vast number OF
,ro,l,ers have become accustomed to the higher
rate of wages which prosperous agriculture per-
mits. and that the country has become aDle 10
supply itself with wheat, and has thus bull' up
n better home market for its manufactures Oh
metals and textiles. Then some theorists Degih
to clamor for a repeal of tho duty on gram.
Tha, repeal would mean ruin to many, anu
disaster to the whole country; 1t would destroy
n magnificent development of industry which
had been stimulated and in effect directed by
the policy of the Government. Is 1t likely that
the French people would vote for such
measuref Is it likely that they would listen
with patience to British journals published III
Paris, as those journals seek to promote BRUSH
interests at the cost of prostration OF ffench
industry
For the same reason, It seemed unlikely that
the people of this country would decide at the
late election to PROSTATE their own industries.
1t is certain, too that they would not have 40
decided. If the suffrage had been full and free
in all the States. Those who voted for MT.
Cleveland can charge to their own unwisdom
any industrial disasters that may follow. Those
who did not may we'll remember that Tree
vote and an honest count in all the States
would have saved tho country from much loss,
and the working people from much suffering.
Whether 1t would be permanently beneficial
to France TO endcavor to raise its own wheat is
n question which France has n right to decide
for itself. Advice from this country would be
as impertinent IA the advice and interference
of Great Britain in our elections. IL does not
appear TO us that at-growng Is the best use
| TO which the French farmers can put their land
and their labor. If they can raise other crops
that will be moro profitable. and Mt the same
! time can thus maintain as satisfactory nome
markets for their manufactures, they would not
| be wise to encourage greater production OF
| wheat. But that is q matter Tor the Frcnch
| people to decide. We cannot expect them To
| have a greater regard for our interests than
| they have for their own. This Is the only
| Nation that votes to close hundreds OF its own
mills and mines in order to bless the people OF
Other lands.