They know that the oranges of Portugal can be sold in Paris at ten centimes, whilst on account of the boxes, hot-houses, etc., which are necessary to ward against the severity of our climate, it is impossible to raise them at less than a franc apiece.

They accordingly demand a duty of ninety centimes upon Portugal oranges.

With the help of this duty, say they, the _conditions of production_ will be equalized.

The legislative body, yielding as usual to this argument, imposes a duty of ninety centimes on each foreign orange.
Now I say that the _relative conditions of production_ are in no wise changed.

The law can take nothing from the heat of the sun in Lisbon, nor from the severity of the frosts in Paris.