New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-02-21
PROTECTION GER,IANY-AGAIN

In endeayoring TO demonstrate the failure
Of protection in Germany the writer Of The
Dailu Times-whose affrmations with regard
TO the Cotton trade We noticed some days
since.-makes the following statement:
Booler Goods-Not 80 close estimates can be msde
in regard to these. The duty Wooden Yarn has not
averaged quite two per cent The duties now on oo
en- goods vary from ~ 10 80 per cent Coarse Wool
Is duty free There has been In general improve
men under the Zol!verein though not important The
whole production Of wool in 1871 was Ali5l cwt;
in ls47 446g33 The use OF WOODEN Yarn for all pur
poses in 1871 and 10 averaged in the Union LIZ lbs per
head in 1874 and ~, l07 lbs-a falling Oh OF about
2 ) per cent
Where, among the numerous books referred
to at the foot of his article, We are TO find
authority for these facts, We do not know, nor
if we did, have we the books themselves; but
we have one book of undoubted authority
that induces us greatly to doubt their accur-
acy, and that is the last Prussian census.
From that we learn that the quantity of wool
shOrn in l549 was above forty millions OF
pOunds-haying doubled in little more than 30
years, and yet our neighbOr states the whole
product of the States of the Zollyerein at only
about fifty millions, which We are disposed to
believe is less than two-thirds of the real
quantity 1t may be, however, that as in the
case of the short cotton crop year, 1850, he
has selected bad year for sheep, but of that
we know nothing.
Twenty years since, Germany exported
25,OCO,OOO lbs. Of wool, being a large portion
of the total product, and she imported cloth.
As a seller of wool, she obtained, of course,
less than English prices, and as a buyer of
cloth she paid, of course, more than English
prices. Now, however, with a greatly increased
production, she has not only almost entire.
ly ceased TO export wool, but has become a
large importer of foreign wool--frOm which
We have right to infer that the price of wool
| is higher than in England, to the great adyan-
tage other farmers. We are told, neyerthe-
less, that the quantity consumed is less than
it was some years since and if this be the case,
there is certainly some mystery in regard to
the disposal of the vast quantity that We know
to be raised at home, and the quantity that
we know to be imported That but little do
nestle wool is exported We know from the
fact that English journals inform us that the
/ trade in German woods has ceased to be
worthy Of attention. That large quantities of
wool are bought in the English market for
Germany we know, on the same authority.
Now, what becomes of itl II not consumed
by Germany in the shape of cloth, is it not
clear that it must go abroad And, if 50,
i.it not equally clear that German cloths must
be cheap, and that the Germans are cheaply
clothed-Obtaining cloth cheaper, while selling
wool dearer We pray our neghbor to answer
this question, and to tell us ii he does not him
self know that German food and wool are now
supplied to the world in the form of cloth so
cheaply as seriously to affect the people Of
England, who formerly supplied cloths to the
Germans themselves We would ask him
also to tel US if the withdrawal of German
wool from the English market is not likely TO
have been attended with an increase in the
price Of wool, TO the advantage Of German
farmers and our own; and if the domestic con-
sumption Of food by the spinners and weayers
OF Germany has not tended 70 maintain the
prices Of food in England to the great advan-
tage Of all who have food 70 sell These
questions answered, we would beg him TO tell
us II protection in Germany has not succeeded
in giving the farmers these better prices for
food and wool, and lower prices for cloth being
precisely what was expected from it, and pre-
eisely what our farmers have always obtained
from it.
Again, we would ask him TO say if German
and American protection did not compel Eng.
land TO remove the tax imposed on the wool and
cotton that passed through her withstand if
they have not recently compelled the French
Government largely to diminish the duty on
foreign wool, on the express ground that Spain
and GerInanywere now, under protection, manu-
featuring nearly all their own woods, and that,
if the people Of France desired to compete
with them, they could do so only by aid Of new
Inducements to foreigners 20 bring their woods
to France for salel 1.-The should answer these
questions in the affirmative, we shall be dis
posed to ask him one more, and that is, Z" Ia
Lot protection the true and only road TO per.
feet freedom OF trade"