NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE sittings of the Commercial Council, which M. DUCHATEL summoned to meet in Paris, commenced last week. Their pro- ceedings refer to a subject which excites less feverish interest than accounts of conquests and battles, or even the fluctuations of foreign stocks ; but there can be no question that, as regards the welfare of the great body of the people, both in this country and on the Continent, it is of far greater importance that the cause of Commercial Reform should be advanced, than even that the Spanish Cortes should promise to pay all or half their debts, or that the Czar should be kept on his own side of the Black Sea. As we hold to the opinion that men only require to be enlightened in regard to their true interest, to induce them to demand the re- moval of prohibitions and high protecting duties, we see reason to rejoice, to a certain extent, that M. DUCHATEL has convened his commercial assembly. The evidence that will be given, and the discussions that must ensue, will tend to increase the stock of facts in favour of free trade. The prohibitionists will be profuse in assertions of the ruin which a change of system will bring. down upon their ill-conducted establishments : but the people of France will be made to understand that the masses are taxed for the benefit of a few ; and they will ask themselves how it can be nationally advantageous, that for almost every manufactured ar- ticle of common consumption, the great body of the people should be compelled to pay a much higher price than their English neighbours? Let the French ports be open to British cotton and woollen goods, crockery, and hard-ware, on the pa) ment of mo- derate duties ; and not only would these articles be supplied at a comparatively low price, but the wines and other products of the French soil and industry would meet with a tenfold demand. As yet, it is to be feared that the knowledge of this simple truth has made but little way in France; but it must become general in spite of all the iron, coal, and porcelain merchants and manufac- turers in the country. M. DUCHATEL may imitate his predeces- sor M. TRIERS, and adopt the opinions of the majority of his Council, however adverse to his known principles, and the real in- terest of all but the too powerful monopolists ; still, we are con- vinced, that the mere publication of the evidence must have a powerful effect in spreading sound commercial principles; and we regret, therefore, that the able advocates of free trade in Bor-
deaux and Havre should have rather peevishly refused to send
delegates to the Council. M. DUCHATEL offered them an excel-
lent opportunity for exposing the weakness of their opponents' ar- guments, which ought not to have been neglected. Constant hostility to abuses may he eventually successful; but it is neces- sary to attack error whenever it shows its front.
The small portion of the evidence that has been published, ought to satisfy the French people, that they must be quite unable, at least for many years to come, to compete in most articles of ma- nufacture with the English. They want iron, fuel, means of eco- nomical internal transport, and.such industry as the British artisans are compelled to exert, It is distinctly admitted—what, indeed, no one can doubt—that French workmen do nut labour like the English. They may consider themselves fortunate in the posses- sion of a soil which, were their rulers enlightened and disinter- ested, would enable them to procure at comparatively little cost, what it taxes the British mechanic and labourer to his utmost strength and capacity of endurance to obtain. Absurd and unjust legislation steps in between the French people and their natural comforts and enjoyments. The interests fostered by this system are clamorous, crafty, and we fear likely to prevail for some time to come at least ; since it appears that ev(n a Liberal Minister is forced to yield up his opinions and mould his measures so as to avoid collision with them.
The decision of the question relative to the amnesty is postponed, it is now said, till the meeting of the Chambers. It is probable that any modification of the Ministry will also be put off, until he temper of the Deputies shall be more satisfactorily ascertained
than was possible during the short summer session; when M. DUPIN unexpectedly converted a subservient into a restive and angry Chamber.
Louis PHILIP has been repeatedly charged with a grasping de- sire to "govern" as well as to " reign." A correspondent of the Courier, who writes generally liken man of sense and discernment, maintains that the King does not desire to be his own Minister, but that he has no choice.
" The real cause of the conduct of the King," says this writer, " is that we do not possess, at the present moment at least, a man whose influence and poli- tical importance are sufficiently recognized to justify the Crown in choosing him. A Prime Minister is not made off-hand ; he must make himself. Hitherto there has been too much uncertainty about both persons and things to allow statesmen to form and classify themselves. But the period is not far distant, I think, when we shall see in our Chamber the man whose character, capacity, and influence, entitle him to occupy the first station, left vacant by the death of M. Casimir Perier."
But what if Louis PHILIP himself quite ridicules the idea that even CASIMIR PERIER was the real Premier of the French Ca- binet? The fact is, that since his accession to the throne, the King has been despotic in his Cabinet, as well as treacherous to the people. His Ministers are responsible for conduct which they cannot control. Louis PHILIP cannot plead the excuse of having been misled by evil counsellors.
