The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-29
Bismarck's Protectionist Policy.

] 1wo years ago IL would have seemed III
credible that measure lately submitted by
/ the German Chancellor to the Federal Coun-
| ell, and which will presently be laid before
! the Beichstag. could receive the sanction of
! the latter body. But times have changed in
! Germany, and there is now chance Of sue
cess for an innovation involving n sweeping
/ change in the fiscal policy Of the empire.
The proposed revision OF the customs con-
| templates return to the sysicm OF prOtcc-
/ tiun, and until recently the signs were that
such bill must fail, not because some
/ elective reasons cannot bo urged for il, but
/ because the Liberals cannot vote for IL with
/ 1hc faintcst prctcncc Of consistency. From
! the Chanccllor's point OF view, the object of
/ change in the tariff is obvious enough. Ho
knows that a constantly growing deficit in
/ the imperial revenue, entaling more and
/ moro oncrous contributions from the constit-
ucnt States, will not tend by any means to
root the new Government IN the affections
/ % it's subjects. Accordingly, he sought not
/ long ago TO supplement the means available
for the central administration by a tobacco
/ monopoly; but this scheme, TO which the
Federal Council gave its sanction, was tie
/ icatcd by the Liberals in the popular branch
/ OF the Legislature. Our readers will re-
/ member, too TINT quite a formidable resist
/ ancc met the Che -ccllor's attempt to con-
centratc all tho railroads ~ tho country ina
/ the hands Of the state. Fooled In these di-
rcctious. BISMARCK has awaited himself OF
The general depression aud complaint ON the
/ part Of producers and manufacturers, to
suggest alterations in the tariff, which. by
/ largely augmcntiug the mpo.ts aud duties,
90. 4 fi.., go
| industries. and at the sameiime rcplenish
the imperial exchequcr.
Now. whatever doubt may ovcrhang the
doctrines Of free trade or at all events their
I rigorous application to the inchoatc condi-
ton of certain German industries. il
is certain that majority of the Lib
erals in the Rechstag have openly en-
hraccd that policy. Indeed that party,
which since tho schism OF some years ago
has called itself tho Party Of Progress, aud
whose main strength has lain In the large
seaport towns Of Prussia, may bc fairly said
to have no element Of vitality no effective
ralying cry, except the promotion Of free
! trade. To the same cause are pledged a
large portion Of the Nationals under Herr
BAMDERGLH's adrolt and influential leader
ship. 1t Is beyond question that most
@, the ablest members OF the Rcichs-
. tag are committed to this side Of
| the question. and that the slightest
/ exhibition OF lHkewnrmncss or dis
affection Mt this juucturc might cndanrcr
their control of their commercial constituent
ces. Moreover, although tho Nationals.
as n party, prolesscd in their last election
manifesto 10 have no commercial pro-
eramme, yet their chief organs. the koi-
nischc Zeniug and the National XciiurG. arc
stanch opponents OF protection. And no
sooner was the new customs policy Of the
Government outlined in BIsMAECN's letter
to Baron VARNBt LER, thana vehement op-
position was organized by Dr.. BAMRER0ER
and Dr. BRAUN. They Immediately founded
a league, intended to spread throughout Cor
many, TO uphold freq trade. Tho move
meut has already acquired such proper
lions. and has called forth such percmp-
tory expression of opinion from the ship
ping interest, that the National Liberals. MS
body, are not likely TO depart from their
traditional attitude.
on the Other haud. there Is no doubt that
the greater part Of the manufacturing dis
tr.cts, as well as the agricultural ncighhor-
hoods which have suffered from the derrrs-
sion Of trade, desire protection; and there
fore thc Conservative members in the Rcichs-
tag may count on considerable Hccc--ions
from these sources. Tho fact is significant
that the Chanccilor's most active coadjutor
in this fiscal measure is Baron NARNnCLER,
who formerly. when Minister Of Wdrtcm-
berg. was known as hi-bittcrcst enemy, and
"a IA stubborn particularst. But for some
years the latter, in connection with Or,
LOVE-, has streuuously favored a return to
protection and the substitution OF tariffs en-
acted by law for conventions sanctioned by
treaty And 1t is understood to have been
In del6rcnce % his rcmonstrance that tho
commercial treaty with Austria was allowed
10 expire on the last day of tho last year. To
his lahors also should be mainly ascribci
the formation o! a strong alliance among
the members Of the Rcchstag, which, I'm er
the peculiar name OF Free Economical In on,
advocates the imposition Of duties for pro-
lection. At the close Of the session in Octo-
hcr this union put forth q declaration That
il would demand important changes in tho
tariff upon the rcasscmbling Of Parliament
This manifesto was signed 10y 24 members
n clear maj ority Of the Reirh-tag but so VA.
rious and conflicting We're the interests rep
resented, that their united support could not
be easily secured tor any given bill. If the
U,tramoutanists could he held together on
this measure, they would probably turn tho
scale Under the circumstances of the case
this insight hc dnlcult for any other loader
than Hmr WlspHoRsr; but Judging from
experience, we can SEQ no hmltto the sub
ordination Of his following. The politicn
bearings OF the proposed innovation AR,
plain enough, and the cy-lIanoyerian Min
IL lister j. not credited with wish to relieve
} the Chanccllor's embarrossmonts. On the
contrary, secret enemy must view will
, satisfaction the financial straits which ar,
! tcniiug to dscnchant the taxpayers will
! tho existing regime, and to undermine tn,
groundwork of tho German empire.
The Charges Must be Investigated.