The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-07-24
GERMAN RELATIONS.
Bismarck'S Raid on American Pork.
Talk With Ex-Minister Sargent.

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One of the aids on THE NATIONAL TRIBUNEs
staff, accommodating through the Riggs House,
saw seated at window pleasant-faced gentle
man, with quick, bright eyes and fine head,
thickly covered with snow-white hair. He
was dressed neatly and plainly, and looked to
be man of business and affairs, capable of
thoroly understanding any problem to which
he might address himself and accustomed to
achieving success in whatever he undertook.
1t was the Hon. A. A. Sargent, of California,
one of the brilliant examples of our country S
seltmade men, and gentleman whose unaided
merits raised him to the highest offices in the
gift of his State. He has been given promi-
hence lately by the manly stand ne made as
Minister to Germany. in defense of his coun-
tTy's interests and dignity. This assertion
shows how conscientionsly American and loyal
Dir. Sargent is He could have made of his
Office the pleasant sinecure too many of our
Ministers make of theirs He could have
played the supple courtier at the palace re-
ceived his reward in the fattering social atten-
tons which foreign potentates bestow upon
plant ambassadors and Ministers. But MIR.
Sargent, as soon as he saw an attack leveled at
his country, resented It, and resented 1t with
such effectiveness and skill that Bismarck was
IN the greatest danger of being foiled, and only
saved himself by the exercise of an arbitrary
power that called down upon him the general
denunciation of the Germans He was able TO
make MIR. Sargent's position at the Court very
unpleasant, however, and that gentleman asked
TO be relieved, which our Government granted
IN way very Gathering to him. He was Of
fered the mission TO ST. Petersburg, and the
State Department and both Houses of Congress
united in strongly commanding his course.
q The pretense that American pork is speci-
cially unhealthful Is entirely fraudulent is it
not, Mr.. Sargent?" said THE TRIBUNE's aid,
with that gentleman.
Entirely so; entirely So" he replied "Ameri-
can pork is really the healthest in the world.
Our hogs run in the fields and woods and eat
sweet, sound grain and nuts and drink pure
water, while those of Europe are shut up and
fed on swill and offal. 1t has not been shown
In single instance that a case of trichina
arose from eating American pork, while the
trichina has ragged more furiously than ever
since the exclusion of American meats. The
great outbreak at Emersleben, where so persons
died and over 400 were sick, took place nearly
year after the exclusion of American pork"
That is certainly pretty conclusive evil
dence"
Another thing continued Mr.. Sargent !;
curing and sailing such as American meats
are subjected to kills the trichina, where any
exists. The triehina has only a short life. Ia
the outbreaks at EmeTsleben, those who ate the
pork within So hours after it was killed all
died, while those who did not eat it until a
week or two afterWard had some chance for
their livesn
Why, do they eat pork raw within IS hours
after it is killed 2"
Certainly. Strange as it may seem, they
are actually fond of raw fresh pork I can
understand men liking to eat unlocked meats
and fish that have been for some time dried or
picked, but fresh meats are quite another
thing. pointed this out to the German Min
lister, and said that what they wanted was not
inspectors, but cooks. The official newspaper
replied that such was the national taste, and
we must take it as it was"
This exclusion only extends to American
pork, does it not?n
Yes Russian and Hungarian pork Is ad-
rnitted the same as German pork This is
because the Junkers, the stupid old Conserya-
tives and INSTRUMENTATION Bismarck is
pettlng, do not fear the competition from there,
for the Russians and Hungarians cannot raise
pork any cheaper than the Germans can. Then,
again, IL is Bismarck's policy to draw Russia,
Anstro- Hungary, and Italy closer TO Germany,
and he loses no opportunity to propitiate them,
especially when he can do it at the expense of
Nation Ike ours which viii not resent the
kicks and cuffs il gets in this way"
But is not this singing US out for discrimi-
nation against fragrant insult?"
Certainly it is. 1t is violation Of a solemn
treaty with Us. Any number of wars have
been fought on grounds similar to this, though
not always with so good reason as this would
give. No nation able to resent would pass over
such affront unnoticed."
What is your idea Of the proper method of
retaliation?''
would have Congress confer on the Presi-
dent ample power TO exclude from our ports
such articles as in his Judgment he may deem
1t wise to exclude and maintain the exclusion
at his discretion. Then, / would have him use
that power TO bring Germany, France and
other countries that have Disseminated against
Us, TO their senses. Unless we do something of
this kind our people are at their mercy"
On what can We retaliate against Ger
many?n
They send Us great quantities of cloaks,
bronze5, porcelains, hosiery, etc, upon which
they make large profits, and which it would
hurt them very much to exclude from our
markets"
Is Bismarck policy popular at homer"
Not at all, only with the Junkers or aristo-
Gratis. 1t is very unpopular with the working
classes, from whom it takes away meat almost
altogether. They cannot afford to buy the
hlgh-priced home meats. How can Saxon
whose average wages are 81 week-afford TO
buy high-priced meat? You saw an account
the other day OF workingmen Kissing and ours
ing bismarck. That was on account of this
taking away the meat from their tables and
other measures"