CHAPTER XI.

COMPARATIVE PROGRESS OF COMMERCIAL NATIONS.

Causes of Relative Progress.--Progress in the Century.--France.-Belgium.— Holland. Russia.-The Hanse Towns.- Prussia and the Zollverein.Austria. Spain.- Portugal.—Italy.- Switzerland.- Greece.- Turkey.Morocco. Persia.--China.-Siam.-Japan.-United States.-Brazil and other South American States.-The Future of International Trade.

A COMPARISON of the relative progress of nations in commerce and industry will show that it is not any one element alone that will place a state in a position of decided superiority. The possession of valuable resources, whether mineral or agricultural, a favourable geographical situation, easy means of communication, energy of character, and even the strength of race, have considerable influence in determining the commercial position of different states. England has iron and coal, France has considerable agricultural wealth. Italy is rich in produce, and she is wonderfully well situated on the Mediterranean. Germany has a population possessing all the strength of the Anglo-Saxon race. The United States of America are fresh and young, and full of life and resources. Nevertheless, whilst England exports produce and manufactures at the rate of 5l. 148. 1d. (1878) per head, France exports at the rate of 31. 148. (1877), and Italy at the rate of 17. 78. 10d. (1877) per head. In truth, the possession of material advantages is not nearly so important as the ability of rendering them subservient to our purposes. Coal and iron were long known to exist in certain localities in England, but it was only when Watt's invention for regulating the steam-engine facilitated mining operations that these minerals became really available. It was northern energy and activity that awakened into life the dormant races of Asia and Africa. Nations are often capable of great exploits. Holland wrested from the sea the soil on which her cities are built. Italian skill perforated Mont Cenis. French enterprise constructed the Suez Canal. Yet, in a long and keen competition, Britain excelled all nations in trade and navigation.

We have seen what the state of trade was in different countries one hundred years ago. Since then, Australia and New Zealand have been discovered, extensive territories in America have been peopled and cultivated, many new states have been created, valuable powers of nature have been discovered and utilised, many new

products have acquired a commercial value, science and art have made wonderful strides, and international exchange has been immensely promoted. Alas, that what a bountiful Providence has bestowed with no sparing hand should have been so often wasted. and abused! How much more extensive would the traffic of the world be at this moment but for the obstructions wantonly thrown in the way by war, ignorance, and a most erroneous commercial policy. Nearly every nation has had a share in these sad shortcomings. Only whilst many of them have remained behind helpless and prostrate, Britain most successfully triumphed over all difficulties.

FRANCE.

France is not an apt scholar in the school of experience. At the commencement of our history we found her in 1763 humiliated and vanquished, closing a wretched war by the cession of some of her valued possessions. Sullen and discontented, she gave herself to industry and trade; but soon after an opportunity offered for retrieving her political fortune, and in 1776 we saw her taking side with the American Colonies, and creating another general war. The peace of Versailles of 1783 placed her in a somewhat better condition, but scarcely half a dozen years elapsed when in 1789 she was in a ferment of revolution. From that moment to the conclusion of the Treaty of Vienna in 1815, a period exceeding a quarter of a century, France was fearfully distracted at home, and in actual war with nearly every state. The restoration of the Bourbons brought to her no prosperity, and their reign was suddenly arrested by the revolution of 1830. During the reign of Louis-Philippe, France was prosperous, but again the revolution of 1848 stopped progress. Then came the short period of the republic with its anomalies and its coups d'état, which opened the way for another empire in 1852. It then seemed as if France was tired of the vain pursuit of glory, and that, taking the happy motto L'empire c'est la paix as her guide, she was disposed to give herself in earnest to recover what she had lost. But jealousy of the aggrandisement of neighbouring states corroded her very heart, and in 1870, despite all entreaties and against the judgment of the civilised world, she unsheathed the sword against Germany, to retire from the contest shattered, defeated, and impoverished. Happily for France, she has great resources in her soil, and industry and frugality enough to enable her people rapidly to recover from her disasters. During the last eight years the commercial progress of France has been considerable. In 1815 the exports of France were not more than in 1787. Up to 1830 the trade of France continued in a very depressed state, nor did it. improve much whilst labouring under a most restrictive tariff. In 1855 Napoleon began to relax somewhat the French commercial policy, and from that moment the progress of France became rapid.