Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-16
CATTLE AND THEIR ILLS.
MIR. LOWELL EXPLAINS THE
SITUATION IN ENGLAND.

The Embargo on the Entry of American
Stock the Leading Political Issue
OF the Day-The Rise in the Price of
Meat Would Prevent a Long COntinu-
ance of the Discrimination.
WASHINGTON, March 15.-Secretary
Frelinghuysen has sent the following let
ter from Minister Lowell regarding the
prevalence of the foot and mouth disease
among cattle in England, to Representa-
tive Hatch, of Missouri, Chairman of the
House Committee on Agriculture. Low
ell says
The recent prevalence of the foot and
mouth disease in the United Kingdom has not
only caused great losses and greater appre-
hension among the population; but has been
adrOitly used by the friends of protec-
tion and the enemies Of the party IN power for
the purpose of bringing to the surface and
rendering active certain amount of pOliti-
cal discomfort. 1t is assumed that though
this malady may be originated in other less
favored quarters Of the globe, yet that the
soil and climate of England have been en-
dOwed by the Creator with some divine i'm
mnnIty in this respect, and il has not been
difficult to persuade the agricultural classes
that their losses have been due to unwise and
even eRipable laxity of the government in
the admission of foreign cattle.
THE ERROR OF THE FARMERS.
Looking round in their irritation for some
OhJect on which to vent their annoyance.
farmers have naturally selected the ministry
as the most obvious and attainable, AS many
OF the liberal members of Parliament are
largely interested in the question as land
holders and represent rural constituencies,
the question has assumed so much political
Importance as TO give some anxiety to the
government. The matter was not alluded to
III the speech from the Throne, but was thought
50 urgent that a bill was introduced In the
House of Lords by Lord CarlingfOrd, Presi-
dent Of the Council. to define more precisely
ana IN some respect to enlarge the powers
already possessed by the Privy Council with
respect to the importa ion of cattle.
AS THE BILL NOW STANDS.
The bill was amended on motion Of the
Duke of Richmond with the intention Of
making 1t obligat atOry on the Privy Council to
prohibit such importation from any country
IN which they were not satisfied that the dis
ease did not exist 1t will now 90 to the
House OF Commons. What Will be its fate
there It is, of course, impossible to foretell,
but from all that | hear | should
think it hardly likely that it will leave the
Commons with any abatement of its more
vigorous provisions. The wish and hope OF
the farming interest is absolute exclusion,
but tins VIII be difficult Of attainment, be-
cause graziers both here and in Scotland are
fully sensible Of the advantage they would
gain by the free admission of cattle on the
hoof.
THE COUNCILS GOOD INTENTIONS.
Hitherto the PrIvy Council have performed
their very difficult and complicated duty with
great fairness and with a leaning, if there
tation of the law, but the clamor is so loud
and so persistent that they may find them
selves forced To measures which in principle
they would disapprOve. The question has
grown to such dimensions that one of the per
sons most competent to give an opinion as
sured me that he thought it to be politically
the most important which would confront the
Ministry in any election that might occur in
the agricultural constituency.
EXCLUSION CAN'T LAST.
Should the protectionsts and farmers
friends succeed in bringing about anything
like an exclusion of foreign cattle there would
soon be an even more powerful reaction
brought about by the higher prices Of meat
that would inevitably follow, and which the
thinly yelled object of the agricultural inter-
est W II produce. Though it might be almost
impossible IN a territory so vast as ours to pre-
vent the occurrence Of sporadic cases Of the
foot and mouth disease, it occurs to me that
it might be feasible thoroughly to disinfect
and keep disinfected certain routes and ports
of shipment by vigorous inspection and an
answering resolution in stamping out every
spark of existing contagiOn. Were such a
course persevered in il would produce such a
convection here as nothing else, especially
no amount OF argument, ever could or Will.