National Republican., 1884-01-15
A GnuNT FoR rRErDOM.
The ETctc Monnrchics 60 Be Taught I
Respect the IIng and DO Him IIomnge.

Ahe FHNtt W ho ~
Respect the Hog and DO Him Homage.
Several bills for the protection of the
American hog in Europe have already been
introduced into congress. These bills mainly
contemplate retaliatUry measures, such as the
prohibition of wines and other articles Of
commerce that are sold in great quantities to
American buyers by countries that rofuse to
allow American meats TO no sold in their
markets on the pret ense that the products
arc unhealthy.
Tho agricultural committees of the senate
aud house are preparing bill of different
kind, which the commissioner of agriculture
and others who have made the subject
study think will accomplish tho purpose
aimed at without stirring up bad feeling.
The central idea of the proposed bill
is the creation Of u board Of expert
inspectors, who shall inspect all
meats that are to bo shipped to foreign
markets, placing upon each package gov.
ernmont stamp. certifying to the condition of
the contents. 1t is claimed that a refusal on
the part of foreign governments to admit
meats bearing the official stamp to their
ports will constitute violation of treaty OBJ
legations, and that the American government
can then adopt stringent measures to protect
its commerce,
Through the kindness OF Hon. r. w. Dun
ham we are permitted to publish a letter
from ono of the chief provision importers in
France to one of our great western pork
packing firms. 1t is decidedly interesting, as
giving an inside view of the feeling in French
commercial circles concerning the prohibi-
tion of our pork products, and their view Of
the course we should take to prevent the I'M
position of such unjust aud vexatious burdens
upon our commerce The letter is as follows
HAvRE, Dec. 2s, 1885, Dear Srs: Our cable TO
| you Of the twenty sixth gave you to understand
! that the French government were anxious not TO
let the vote, passed last week by the chambers, TO
| be interpreted Us return to prohibition. They
have tried to appear as acting in accordance with
this vote and at the same time to protect the In
terests of the provision trade but IL seems doubt.
iul whether they will succeed i'll conciliating all
Yesterday an Official announcement was made
! that meats would be allowed to come into the
! ports of Havre. Bordeaux, and Marseilles subject
| to inspection by parties appointed BY the cham
! Der of commerce, but that all the ports would be
closed until special law regulating inspection
| was passed.
This was hailed as a decided success and the
| good news was cabled to America. Since writin s
| the above, however. a fresh communication has
been received to the effect that fresh change
had taken place and that positive prohibition was
| to be reinstated, and only meats contracted fol-
and arriving before the twentieth OF January
As tomorrow, and tho next day, and each fol.
| lowing one, some new absurdity may be com.
mitled, we teel that It Is time for us to leave of
cabling every day decisions which are no sooner
made than they are recalled. The miserable gov
ernment OF this country Is willing to make itseli
the laughing stock of the world, and we are GER
tain that the only way to ring 1t to its senses In
this question Is for the United States to adopt
measures of reprsal against the products coming
| from this country.
Ifyou can bring the ipflience of your mem bers
| of congress TO bear in this direction the matter
may DC very soon settled; otherwise it will drag
on, TO remain m everlasting source of unsettle-
ment TO the trade not only in this country but even
| in your markets.
The United states have the means of exercising
| great pressure on this country without hurting
| themselves. A duty imposed on goods imported
terribly without doing the United States any harm
| ana this measure was once before adopted, Of
| threatened to be adopted, when the government
| of this country introduced discriminating duties
between goods imported by French vessels and
those by other nationalitles. Yours truly,