The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-12-21
The American Pig Must Go.

-
The American Pig Must Go.
The protectionists of Germany have
presented the following ordinance in
the Bundeswrath
"The importation from America of
pigs, pork, bacon, and sausages of all
kinds is forbidden"
The pretended reason for this act of !
hostility to the American pig is "tri-
chime, )" the real reason is protection
to native industry"
The foolish practice of making |
things dear by law in order to "pro-
tect " somebody in extortion, which
has so long preveilcd in the United
States, is being adopted by Germany.
The system, commonly called "pro-
lection to native industry" when
adopted by foreign nations against US,
doesn't look so wise and beneficial as
it does when we practice it against
them. The German farmer demands
protection " against the "pauper
pigs" of America, and the American
pig is ordered to stay away from Ger
many.
The danger of trichin@ is false
pretext, for this action against the
American pig, as is proven by the fact
that the American people eat Ameri-
can pork, and trichin8 is almost un-
known in this country. The German
government is we'll aware of this, but
in compliance with the demands of
protection" it promulgates this de-
cree.
While the pretext for this action is
false, the action itself is honest and
straightforward enough. The exclu-
sion of our pork is neither indirect or
sneaking: it is boldly and directly
done. Our pigs are not shut out of
Germany by the furtive device of
high protective tariff, but by positive
command, as candid as it is unwise.
The American protectionists may
learn short and easy lesson in politi-
cal economy from this proposed action
of tbs German empire. The blow
aimed at the American farmer falls
upon the German consumer. Every
= | hIull LII oOA ALA6hJ WIN VoIo ROA ~ AAH H50
pay higher price for it, in order to
: protect" the German farmer from
the competition of the farmer of Iowa
and Illinois. Pork is made scarce by
law, scarcity increases price, and the
German farmer is enabled to reap q
t benefit at the expense of all the rest OF
1 his countrymen. This is the operation
: of the protective system" every
t where.
e We Americans have no trouble il
4 detecting the sophistry in the PRO
tective" policy of Germany. We art
# only blind to the folly of it in our owl
n country. We exclude stockings from
e this country by law, and say it is
II wise policy that enables tha American
# atocking-maker to charge high price
y for his goods. To be sure, all of IL
|. who wear stockings Lay the extra tax
|, but we protect him against compe
# tition with the stoeking-maker of Ger
Il many. Is it any wiser for US to forbi
L TIE importation of German stocking
y tnan for Germany to forbid the impor
tation of American pork? The foil.
?. is alike in both cases.
Whenever any foreign country en-
If dsagors to- protect its producers al
it / ter the American manner, the Ameri
Is can protsctionist Immediately gives
IS yelp OF pain and demands the punish
is ment of the offending government
d At this moment there is a frantic az
n peal for retaliationn on German
for her uncivil treatment of our pigs
Exclude something of German pre-
duction," says the protectionist, " an
70 get revenge in that way" Unfortl
nately we are out of material for n
venge; we have nothing to retaliat
r. with We have already applied OF
. barsarous system of tariff exclusion
70 sall the chief products of GermaA.
= and supposing even that we could g.
Le clude some important article os Ge
=, man production much needed by OF
IS citizens, whom should we iniure /
y excluding it? First, the handreds
e Germans who want TO sell; the aGticl
~ Secondly, the thousands of our ow
ID people who want to buy it. This
$. the Inevitable result Of the. protectN
"a system Herald,