按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
suffered shipwreck in both countries。 Just as formerly in the year
1786； so also on this occasion； the English received great support
from the theorists； and the liberal party in France； carried away
by the grand idea of universal freedom of trade and by Say's
superficial arguments； and from feelings of opposition towards a
detested Government and supported by the maritime towns； the wine
growers； and the silk manufacturers； the liberal party clamorously
demanded； as they had done in the year 1786； extension of the trade
with England as the one true method of promoting the national
welfare。
For whatever faults people may lay to the charge of the
Restoration； it rendered an undeniable service to France； a service
which posterity will not dispute； it did not allow itself to be
misled into a false step as respects commercial policy either by
the stratagems of the English or by the outcry of the liberals。 Mr
Canning laid this business so much to heart that he himself made a
journey to Paris in order to convince Monsieur Vill鑜e of the
excellence of his measures； and to induce him to imitate them。 M。
Vill鑜e was； however； much too practical not to see completely
through this stratagem； he is said to have replied to Mr Canning；
'If England in the far advanced position of her industry permits
greater foreign competition than formerly； that policy corresponds
to England's own well…understood interests。 But at this time it is
to the well…understood interests of France that she should secure
to her manufactories which have not as yet attained perfect
development； that protection which is at present indispensable to
them for that object。 But whenever the moment shall have arrived
when French manufacturing industry can be better promoted by
permitting foreign competition than by restricting it； then he （M。
Vill鑜e） would not delay to derive advantage from following the
example of Mr Canning。'
Annoyed by this conclusive answer； Canning boasted in open
Parliament after his return； how he had hung a millstone on the
neck of the French Government by means of the Spanish intervention；
from which it follows that the cosmopolitan sentiments and the
European liberalism of Mr Canning were not spoken quite so much in
earnest as the good liberals on the Continent might have chosen to
believe。 For how could Mr Canning； if the cause of liberalism on
the Continent had interested him in the least； have sacrificed the
liberal constitution of Spain to the French intervention owing to
the mere desire to hang a millstone round the neck of the French
Government？ The truth is； that Mr Canning was every inch an
Englishman； and he only permitted himself to entertain
philanthropical or cosmopolitical sentiments； when they could prove
serviceable to him in strengthening and still further extending the
industry and commercial supremacy of England； or in throwing dust
into the eyes of England's rivals in industry and commerce。
In fact； no great sagacity was needed on the part of M。 Vill鑜e
to perceive the snare which had been laid for him by Mr Canning。 In
the experience of neighbouring Germany； who after the abolition of
the Continental system had continually retrograded farther and
farther in respect of her industry； M。 Vill鑜e possessed a striking
proof of the true value of the principle of commercial freedom as
it was understood in England。 Also France was prospering too well
under the system which she had adopted since 1815； for her to be
willing to attempt； like the dog in the fable； to let go the
substance and snap at the shadow。 Men of the deepest insight into
the condition of industry； such as Chaptal and Charles Dupin； had
expressed themselves on the results of this system in the most
unequivocal manner。
Chaptal's work on French industry is nothing less than a
defence of the French commercial policy； and an exposition of its
results as a whole and in every particular。 The tendency of this
work is expressed in the following quotation from it。 'Instead of
losing ourselves in the labyrinth of metaphysical abstractions； we
maintain above all that which exists； and seek above all to make it
perfect。 Good customs legislation is the bulwark of manufacturing
industry。 It increases or lessens import duties according to
circumstances； it compensates the disadvantages of higher wages of
labour and of higher prices of fuel； it protects arts and
industries in their cradle until they at length become strong
enough to bear foreign competition； it creates the industrial
independence of France and enriches the nation through labour；
which； as I have already often remarked； is the chief source of
wealth。'（4*）
Charles Dupin had； in his work 'On the Productive Powers of
France； and on the Progress of French Industry from 1814 to 1847；'
thrown such a clear light on the results of the commercial policy
which France had followed since the Restoration； that it was
impossible that a French minister could think of sacrificing this
work of half a century； which had cost such sacrifices； which was
so rich in fruits； and so full of promise for the future； merely
for the attractions of a Methuen Treaty。
The American tariff for the year 1828 was a natural and
necessary result of the English commercial system； which shut out
from the English frontiers the North American timber； grain； meal；
and other agricultural products； and only permitted raw cotton to
be received by England in exchange for her manufactured goods。 On
this system the trade with England only tended to promote the
agricultural labour of the American slaves； while on the other
hand； the freest； most enlightened； and most powerful States of the
Union found themselves entirely arrested in their economical
progress； and thus reduced to dispose of their annual surplus of
population and capital by emigration to the waste lands of the
West。 Mr Huskisson understood this position of affairs very well。
It was notorious that the English ambassador in Washington had more
than once correctly informed him of the inevitable consequence of
the English policy。 If Mr Huskisson had really been the man that
people in other countries supposed him to be； he would have made
use of the publication of the American tariff as a valuable
opportunity for making the English aristocracy comprehend the folly
of their corn laws； and the necessity of abolishing them。 But what
did Mr Huskisson do？ He fell into a passion with the Americans （or
at least affected to do so）； and in his excitement he made
allegations the incorrectness of which was well known to every
American planter and permitted himself to use threats which made
him ridiculous。 Mr Huskisson said the exports of England to the
United States amounted to only about the sixth part of all the
exports of England； while the exports of the United States to
England constituted more than half of all their exports。 From this
he sought to prove that the Americans were more in the power of the
English than the latter were in that of the former； and that the
English had much less reason to fear interruptions of trade through
war； cessation of intercourse； and so forth； than the Americans
had。 If one looks merely at the totals of the value of the imports
and exports； Huskisson's argument appears sufficiently plausible；
but if one considers the nature of the reciprocal imports and
exports； it will then appear incomprehensible how Mr Huskisson
could make use of an argument w