THE COMPARATIVE WEALTH OF FRANCE AND GERMANY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 44, 17 February 1876, Page 4

THE COMPARATIVE WEALTH OF FRANCE AND GERMANY.

A striking testimony to the financial prosperity of France, as compared with tbe poverty of Germany, haß just been given by the Berlin JBorsen Zeitung, in its comments upon tbe present flourishing condition of the French revenue, and the great excess of the receipts in 1875 over thoseof laat year, and over tbe budget estimates. Tbis last result, it states, is well fitted to heighten the astonishment felt nt the oaterial well being of France. " In spite of a formidable burden of taxation, which exceeds the sum of £100,000,000, this burden, it would appear, is borne with astonishing ease, and tbe national finances continue prospering more and more from year to year. It is to be observed that in Prussia and its recently added provinces, with an aggregate area and population two-thirdß tbose of France the income of the State is only £34,500,000, or about a third of ♦he State income in Fiance. The French people, therefore, bear' a burden of luxation double tbat of Prussia, auu nevertheless people seem to find tbe taxeß press more severely than in tbe case of France. France is, therefore, in fact, after England, tbe richest country iv the world, and if we place the German Empire in the third rauk in economic prosperity, the number of rich and well doing States is jsoon exhausted; for besides one or two email States, like Belgium, Holland, Denmark, and Switzerland, one can scarcely mention another rich country — whether in the Eastern or Western hemisphere. An exception may be Hi&de for tbe United States, which makes great steps forward in its economic consolidation. Nevertheless, tbe ilnaucial circumstances of France throw almost all the otber States into the sbade." This is a remarkable compliment to be paid to France by a German uulhority, while the German triumphs in tho late contest are still fresh; and tbe facta whicb are the subject of the compliment, we may add, are themselves so well known ab to go far to soothe the amour proyre of Frenchmen ,on the score of their lato defeat. It teny be hoped, as time goes on, that Frenchmen will come to regard that defeat as a passing incident in their history, the just retribution of a mistaken policy, aud not anything requiring to be avenged co as to restore their prestige. Their rapid recovery from .tbe material consequences of defeat has •already furnished a more striking proof of (he euergy and vitality of tbe race tban even a successful war of revenge could possibly give.