, 1874-12-15

Germany has low tnriH, Comparatively
| few imports arc taxed at NIL. Of those which
are, only small proportion pny os much rs
Ii per cent. The average rate Of duty is
from s to 10 per cent. The country has re-
| cently wagcd two great wars and ono little
one, at an enormous expenditure Of blood
aud money. Every German, during at lcast
three years Of his 1ifo, just as he is emerging
into manhood, is withdrawn from productive
industry by enforced service in the army.
Tho nation is exposed to tremendous compe~
tition in tho raco for industrial supremacy.
England and Belgium disputes with her in
the markets Of tho world, SO far as her
heavier products are concerned, md Trance,
Switzerland, and Italy yics with her in Ill tho
finer fabrics aud works of art. Such
a state Of things ought, in obedience
to all tho laws Ibid GOWN by
tho "Protoctionists," to result in tho cossa-
ton of industry, the etagnation Of trado,
| aud the ruin of the nation. The facts do
not ngreo with this theory, which is bad, very
bad. for the theory. Germany. despite nil
these drawbacks, is prosperous. sho is so
| because the lowness of hor thrift allows her
to buy in the cheapest market and sell in tho
dearest, and because her currency is at par
with tho best in the world, and sho plays no
juggling tricks with her trade.
The cost Of living has increased in conso-
queuco Of tho lato war with France, but not
III proportion to tho increase Of her wealth.
Food, clothing, and shelter, are all much
higher than they were five years ago. A
! striking proof of this is found in tho f,ot
tlat the Prlssian Government las voluntarily
raised tho pay Of its employees so per cent,
Domestic industry has moro than kopt paco
| with this advance in tho cost Of tho primo
clements Of production. In Stuttgart, tho
manufacture Of iuto hns been begun, and tho
export Of tho article hns doubled within
yenr. Tie whole province shows increased
activity mud prosperity. The United States
Consul ut Stettin writes: s'Substantial sguB
OF improvement aro everywhere to be soon.
Commerce is tlourishing, manufactures
thriving. New steamship lines ara being
started, new railroads constructed, now lner-
cantilo houses springing into existence" Tho
| whole body of American Consuls in Gcruauy
testify in the same strain. This must beycry
painful to tho "Protoctionists Of America.
They might supply each Consul with n copy
of CAnEYa complete works on political
economy, md send supplementary caution
to each not to write any moro reports until
tho Empire was providontially wretchod,
Tho foreign trade Of Germany shows like
prosperity. It has not only ircreasod in tho
old channels, but it has struck out new ones
Of its own. Our Consuls aro here, again,
| unanimous. Corroborativo testimony Gan bo
brought from other sources. DaAo1Auou
Haitl, in his lecture before tho Sunday Lecture
Society, that German manufactures wera
driving British warcs out Of British markets,
| md TINT locomotives made in aogmnny or
Belgium were running on English as we'll Us
| Russian railways. About four montllsago tho
| three great royiews Of London sounded
simultaneous alarln that Germans were dis
| placing Englishmou in tho command Of tho
| worlds trado. AL these facts Bpea}s for then-
solves. They show that u country with FREQ
tralo and sound currency can build up a
gigantic industry .at tho very doors Of the
manufacturing power boforo which our
"protectcd industries, 5000 milos away,
tremblo and tottor, md cry for bountios Of
10 to 10 per cent 10 10 lowed upon aud col
lected from tho consumers Of their protected
goods.