XXX]  COBDEN'S VINDICATION OF THE TREATY. 803

Union between the two nations, for defeating or marring the
Projected Treaty. Of course these fallacies you will easily
deal with, I observe they often answer themselves. For
instance, in the same breath, we are told that we have
emptied our budget and given everything to France already,
and then that we are going now to give everything and
teceive nothing. Then we are told that it is very wrong to
Teduce the duties on French wines, because France is going
to lower the duties on British iron; and in the same breath
ore reproached for including Spain and Portugal in our
“ concessions,” without obtaining anything in return! I am
really half inclined to share your suspicions that there are
influences at work, hostile to any policy which shall put an
end to the present state of armed hostility and suspicion
between France and England. God forgive me if I do any
body of men the injustice of attributing to them wrongfully
Such an infernal policy. It is, perhaps, hardly consciously
that anybody would pursue such a course.
“ But surely, if people wished to see the relations of the
two countries improved, they would never attempt to impede
the only sure means of attaining that end by such frivolous
objections. These people seem to think that Free Trade in
France can be carried by a logical, orderly, methodical protess,
 without resorting to stratagem, or anything like an
indirect proceeding. They forget the political plots and conbrivances,
 and the fearful adjuncts of starvation, which were
becessary for carrying similar measures in England. They
forget how Free Trade was wrested from the reluctant
majorities of both our Houses of Parliament. Surely Louis
Napoleon has as good a right, and may plead as strong
motives of duty, for cheating (if I may use the word) the
majorities of his Senate into an honest policy, as Peel had in
dealing with the Honse of Lords. The Emperor of the
French was elected by the whole people, not only to ad-1860.


Xr. 58.