The New York herald., 1879-07-03


America have entirely abandoned this line of policy.
Austria instead OF lowering her duties. has increased
thcm. so also has Russia.
l see then, that countries which have protec--
ton prosper. and see that the countries which
have free trade are going backward. Great and
powerful England. that commercial giant. who
entered the aroma of the whole world and de-
clared itself ready to do all that possible to
be done in the free trade line. goes slowly back
to protective duties and not many years will eapse
before she will have to save her English market
for her home industries. According to my opinion.
we in this country have. owing to the present
low state of our tariff. been subject to bleeding
process. which has only been temporarily checked
by the milliards have received. The question be-
tore us is not political one but simple
economic question. We will how once
more infuse fresh blood into the German body.
All ask therefore. is that party Questions be set
aside and request yon to hold them aloof from
this matter of pure interest. II to give the
German people anything AZ all then say. bis dat qui
ctto dat aud qui dat. Injuries still more the
welfare of people. What the German people
demand is certainty to the industrial and
q speedy decision is far better than uncertainty,
WHAT OUR MERCHANTS SAY.
A representative OF the HERALD visited some of the
leading exporters OF American products to German
ports aud ascerained their views to the probable
effect OF this tariff upon the American export trade.
1t was but the entering wedge they all claimed, for
changes in other countries, all brought about by the
strides FORWARD the clOso or the
war by the industries Of this country. Mr.. Meiss-
ner whose kno wledge OF the trade between Germany
and America makes his words of peculiar value.
stated that the trade had expected this movement
the part OF Germany for some time past Four
years ago. when he visited of his friends in the
Old country, he asked whether the Americans
intended to everybody abroad. 1t just the
time when petroleum had become from mere
ceptional article OF daily necessity. 1t had en-
tirey destroyed the oil trade in certain sections of
Germany. and by that time was fast becoming
universally accepted article for lighting purposes.
,rff.n 1,..tn
seed OIL which used to be generally sold to families
and stores, but year by year beside the ordinary
The introduction of petroleum slowly at first, and
i'll immense quantities afterward, had entirely de-
stroyed not only the speculation but also the heavy
sales of rape seed. Now OF all the things the Ger
man farmers had to sell America brought them to
their shores not only but to their inland towns and
hamles ut figures far less and i'll qualities far better
than the Germans could produce them. This
several years ago., said Mr. Meiss ner. land made
up my mind that the time was not far distant when
Germany would have to do something TO protect
herself
CROWDED BIZ AMERICA.
"Two years ago once more visited my native
country. 1t about the time when we
began to export from this country fresh
meat for the European markets. The same
friend whom 1 had seen years previously.
asked me:-.Are you going to let us sell any
of cereals lard cheese anything, in tact which may
be called an agricultural product, aud now you are
going to interfere with the sale of our CATTLE and
send as fresh meat direct from America. Where is
all this going to endY told him that ex-
ceedingiy sorry. but did not see how he could
stop the laws of supply and demand. Since
that a change would be brought about.
1t has been discussed for over two IN Germany
well before they discuss them. Experts have been
employed ever since to watch not only the laws Of
the new tariff to which you allude is the outgrowth
careful Systematic study aided by statesmanship
and scientific knowledge OF the highest order. Now.
let add though the protective system with which
Germany is about to surround itself is percentage
averaging. think. no higher than ten per cent in
crease in duties the old tariff it Is the begin
ming of a system which the whole OF Europe
will have to adopt We here in this country
have brought them to it. England. too, will have
to protect herself. The facilities at the command
of the American exporter are now such that
feed and ciothe them, and give them luxuries be-
sides. at less cost than they produce manuac
ture any Of these articles themselves 1t is simple
question of self-protection. Take whatever view
you desire they must from their standpoint, now
have some protection against imports from America
If they at all intend to protect their own products
WILL GO RIGHT ALONG.
"Now, If ask me as to the immediate effect Of
SO Is cereals lard aud other articles except
bacco is concerned. to very little We export and in
tend to export just rs much as before. Of course,
the consumer over there will have to pay more for
American goods, but he knows that he gets better
article than he can obtain at home. Here and there
O slight difference may be notceable but it does
affect the volume OF trade ut all. 1t keeps UP
the old level. Besides you must bear in mind that
the tariff you spcak OF. though protective to Ger
man interests, Is only slightly l doubt. barring
articles of luxury, whether the entire average in-
crease of duties foots up. over ten per cent.
know 1t is Item of considerable Importance but
the staple articles which they must have there
will be shipped in just large quantities before.
Referring to the law alluded to above to prevent
speculation Mr. Messner said :-..You may virtually
call this stop law. Wo are acting under it now.
We're it not for this rampant speculation might set
in to certain articles, and the distress resulting
therefrom would only increase the hardships OF
which the German people now so bitterly complain.
and which the German government is anxious to
remove" Mr.. Meissner then advised the writer to
call upon q leading tobacco exporting Arm, he
said that question was u very intricate one and he
preferred that Arm engro3sed in that trade might
be permitted to express its views In regard to the
tariff.
The tobacco house thus indicated was called upon
by the writer. but the head of the rm. the oldest
condition tnat mother the Arm name nor the part
ners be mentioned. When the subject of the
German tariff was first brosched he stated that
even the greatest men sometimes would be small in
matters. This the with Bismarck
when he put the duty on tobacco pro rata
higher than all other articles He could
no more stop the use of Kentucky to-
bacco in Germany than he could stop the
waters Of Niagara. And, singular to say they knew
times more tobacco was used i'll Germany than in
ordinary times This must be attributed to the hab
its OF the people; they were OF meditative mind.
and behud those voluminous clouds OF smoke the
depressed German often built his joyous castles in
the air. The German was bound t. have his tobacco
and his beer cost what 1t may, and the higher duty
would fall upon tho consumer. that instead Of
projecting home industry this increase OF the price,
slight 1t might be- would fall the smokers OF
Germany, and who in Germany did not smoke
Neither could they replace the Kentucky tobacco by
any other article OF home growth. II article
Ga gcaertx, which all Germany required.
True. the effect on present sales felt. Owing
to this tariff there was q pause in the export
of tobacco. but only pause. They had been in 1t
for several months. and 1t would probably continue
for six months longer, rs there large supply
OF II hand In Germany. But after little while
the business will revive. There be fear that
tho tobacco trade win ut all be injured by any tariff
which bismarck desired to impose upon shippers.
Ills real dosre to obtain the monopoly OF the
tobacco trade for the government az in France but
when he saw he could not do that he embraced the
American SYSTEM aud endcavorcd to make the duty
the article proportionately higher than othor
articles Of i'm porta which his country
men In the long will not thank him.
NOT AFFECT Production.
Tobacco, it should be further remarked, was a
peculiar crop--in fact the only crop which ut once
commands ready cash for the producer. That was
one great reason why, Notwithstanding the present