The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-11-24
THE REPUBLIC.

twenty years since, there was made the first
attempt at producing customs-union in
Germany. The idea soon spread, and in
1885 was formed the ZOLl- Verein or general
customs union Of northern Germany. Han
over, and some of the smaller States, however,
still held out, prelerring British free trade to
German free trade--the latter being to be Sc
cured by aid of protection to the German
farmer in his efforts to make a market at home
for his products, thus giving value to his labor
and his land. Since that date England has
thrown open her ports, and the ZoIl- Verein
has increased the duties on manufactured com
modilies-the tlOo countries thus mooing IN pre-
ciseIy opposite directiOnS-and what has been
the result2 Has Hanover been attracted TO
Britain2 On the contrary, she has been re-
PEELED from her, because the advantages of
trade with that country are diminishing daily;
and she has been attracted by the Zolt- Verein,
because the advantages of trade in that direc-
ton are daily increasing. As our readers may
not be familiar with the nature of the recent
arrangement between Prussia and Hanover,
we offer them the following extract from a
number of the London Eranliner for last
month, excellent free trade authority;
''Though Prussia wholly failed in effecting po-
litical union, her commercial union stood fast through
all the troubles of l9iS and ls49 and Prussia has
wisely done her best to strengthen this bond, by in
GLIDING Hanover in the same union. The position
of Hanover, as n State maritime and agricultural,
naturally pointed it out free trade State, and
such it has hitherto been-leuying duties only for
purposes Of rsDsnae Oldenburgh and Schaum-
bur- united with Hanover in the tariff and thus
formed the Steusr- Verein. For some time past Sc
cret negotiations appear to have been in progress
between Prussia and Hanover for the fusion of
these two unions. The terms have now been agreed
upon, and Hanover consents 10 enter the customs
union on the basis of the present tariff, except
coffee, tea, sugar, wine Sc, and some less import
ant articles in which considerable reduction is to
take place"
We would now request our friends of
the Union to explain how it is that protec-
ton to the German farmer attracted Hanover,
as protection to the American farmer and
planter-our real free traders-attracted Texas,
and as it now attracts Canada, Nova Scotia,
and the Sandwich Islands; while Manchester
free trade repels Ireland and Canada, as it has
repealed Hanover, Texas and the provinces
Of which our Union is formed. In union there
is strength; and the tendency to union ex-
lists IN Germany and among ourselves, because
protection against British monopoly is attractive.
In disunion there is weakness; and the tenden-
cy to disunIon exists throughout the realm
of Manchester free trade; and therefore tits that
we have the Times sermonizing upon the dan
ger of ga general collapse of all our institu
tons"
We would also desire our free trade friends
to explain the fact that, after sixteen years. e1-
perience the German movement towards freedom
of trade has been in the same precise direction as
that of GU. protective tarffs-to wit, a reduc-
ton of duties on tea, coffee, and other articles
that neither they nor we produce whereas,
the Manchester political economists teach that
the true road to freedom of trade lies in the di-
rection of the total abolition Of duties on iron
and upon cotton and woollen goods, the produc-
ton of which England desires to monopolize;
and the collection of all the revenue by duties
on tea, coffee, and other commodities for which
our climate is unfit, and Of which England has
none to SELL The highly protective tariff of
1923 enabled us 10 establish freedom of trade
with the producers Of tea and coffee, and to pay
those producers in cotton cloths. The highly
protective tariff of Germany is bringing about
free trade with the producers of tea, coffee,
and cotton, and enabling the people of Germa-
ny to pay those producers in cotton and wool
len goods and hardware, the chief value of
which is that derived from the employment of
German labor. Real free trade is, therefore,
everywhere attractive; while Manchester free
trade is everywhere repulsive. The one tends
to the concentration Of individuals, and to the
strengthening of the community of which they
are part while the other is seen everywhere
tending to the dispersiono of individuals, the rup-
ture of family ties, and the weakening of the COM
munity. If our neighbors can otherwise explain
the facts that have here been submitted to our
readers, we shall be-glad to hear from them.