National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-12-26

the federal council, prohibited the importa-
tion of chopped, or, In similar manner,
divided or otherwise prepared pork, and
Of sausages Of all kinds, from America"
The cdict specified that ham and bacon
were not prohibited, but those products
were excluded Notwithstanding. Lard was
not excluded, and Is still received. This
act Of the council was done under the fol-
lowing provision In tariff law Of the bun
dcsrath, or German parliament: "EXcep
tlonal measures may be temporarilly adopted
under extraordinary circumstances for the
prevention Of dangerous contagious dis
cases, or for sanitary or precautionary rea-
sons, for a part or the whole dlstrictn
Here is foundation for prohibition under a
charge Of Embellishments or infection In
American meats.
Feb. Is, 1881, President Grevy, under adj
vice OF the consultative committee OF pub.
lie hygiene, prohibited the importation Of
salt pork coming from the United states OF
America, and charged the ministers OF agri-
culture and Of finance to execute the decree.
Here It is again, an importation Of morblnc
and dangerous meat, a libel upon the fair
fame Of American pork-products, at the re.
quest Of domestic puryeyors OF pork, and
probably with hope Of helping production
In France, but certainly without scintllla
OF evidence, so far as can be learned, that a
single Frenchman was everinwardly griped,
incommoded, worm'eaten, or doomed to
death from eating the article subject to
such Introduction.
Under this decree merchants were even
forbidden TO comply with their telegraphic
and written contracts with merchants of
the United States.
LlBELtNG THE AMERICAN hog.
What excuse for this condemnation OF
American pork existedg / am unable to
of trinbfpnefa n
country In Europe resulting from the con-
sumption OF American pork. The Acad-
envy Of Medicine Of Paris reported that 95,-
100000 Kilograms OF American pork prod
ucts, equal to nearly 100000 hogs, has
been consumed in France in four years prior
to 1881 without causing single case of dis
ease. The disease is absolutely unknown
in England or in Belgium, where our prod
ucts have been consumed from time i'm
memorial. Prof. Virchow, of Berlin, of the
board of inspection Of Berlin, says that no
case Of trichinosis in Germany has ever
been traced TO American pork. For fifteen
years and more the workmen Of Havre have
consumed American pork freely without O
sign Of disease, and some OF them, In q
spirit OF bravado, or rather with personal
knowledge of the innocuous character OF
American meat, have eaten, In the presence
Of inspectors, meat condemned as trichinous
with perfect impunity.
AS early as 1873 decree Of the canton OF
Zurich, Switzerland, prohibited the sale Of
pork meats that had not been examined for
trichine; but on the representations OF the
American consul the prohibition was with
drawn. A Belgian minister Of the interior,
after full examination Of the facts refused
| to recommend prohibition, which he said
would injure trade and inspire the people
with oyerconfldence In native meats. He
preferred cooked meats TO raw, and was
satisfied TO continue the consumption OF
American meats.
AS to the prevalence Of trichine, the facts
| all show the superiority of our meats In eX-
| emption from the pest. The German cases
| OF trichinoss are from German swine; and
| In no instance has been traced to American
importation. A recent panic in France,
caused by disease and death OF several vic.
tins, was traced to French hog. Consul
Wilson, Of Brussels, says that q French
| commission found only 800 Kilograms in.
fccted In an examination Of 100000 kilo'
| grams. In 1882, under supervision Of the
minister of the interior OF Holland, an In
vestigation was made IN Rotterdam, which
continued several months, and only 80
samples contained trichine out OF $500 In
spccted.
II has been stated by those who have
found on occasional trichinous sample In re
| ~. II ..1..a - -. a :. A..
were, IL Is doubtful II they could cause dis
ease, and they have been fed to dogs, pigs
and rabbits with no injurious result.
The Berlin Tribune states, from olilcia
eps, .naS ", tila,, H. 5on,ho ar av, w.s
uNeLhe W ona;os vbioS p Sas trnoai
90 o hnnr r nnriy ThiS ronnrd mjaht n
oYtamSad 7, is not naoossorv Nnono /,
this audience believes In the unhealthful
tno9 ~ o5,ato :, pnrohibit;or hv ,yb;ch tbo,
oro axn,nJad ora TromoI FROM somo otbc
consideration than the danger TO publi,
health,
vu,r su,,,nr noxr
"""' "'a'
What, then, can be done to remove tn
embargoY These nations have the right u
provide for themselves II they can. VI thi
1t would be folly to complain. But W
have right to complain OF misrepresenta
ton. We should enforce that right In on
conventions, In the newspapers, and throug
the gP% a o Of our T6t Se1 a@S s
has done something already. Our con
suls at ports of delivery. of our pork pre-
duets have upheld the truth as to thei
healthiulness. There should be q NOR
vigorous ana direct representation OF lact
through the state Department, ana It's oil
GERS IN the dlplomatic service. :,
governments that nave iDeled ana di'
credited this industry and Its products b
false charges, direct or implied, should !
brought to admit the truth as to the qua
ity OF the goods prohiDited; IL they the
choose to continue the prohioition we nav
nothing to say. III 1t is to increase hon
, production and save grain OF gold an
/, , silver let them say SO, and we shall be col
tent BUT they must NOT commune 10 aecr
anu isrepaesen. our pU md iho d IU .no
JSlS VI grea. inuuS''S "nu 'ne oe''iin''
!. Vi our eoniiheiee'
: ms injury Is greater than IL seems
/ irst glance. IN the hscal year lSoO-'s
the exports TO France were, OF ham, bacol
s and pork, 2O,OOO,OOO pounds, and 43,OoU
/ 700 TO Germany, or the meat OF 00o,ol
q hogs; but there was sent the product
nearly 100000 hogs to Great Britain ~ W ,,