The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-19

great blunder Of the German financial admins
tration, by which silver was attempted to be de-
monetized in the empire-a blunder to which
must be attributed mainly the perturbations and
distresses Of the industry of the world since 1873
At the now current session Of the Reichstag the
agricultural classes of Germany are making
themselves heard in earnest The German
landed interest landlords farmers and peasants
are organized throughout the empire into unions.
ard these make themselves heard through body
called the general committee of the congress OF
German farmers. This committee had handed,
before the 10th of December. to the Imperial
Cha ncellor aud the Reichstag 156 petitions from
farmers unions and forty-two petitions from
peasants unions, with an address of which now
send you the text:
''The congress of German farmers has repeatedly
recommended at its general meetings with regard to
the monetary question and has urged in the interest
of German agriculture, the adoption by treaty of an
international double standard In the course of the
past year the condition of German agriculture has
happily become so much worse that the committee
believes it Is necessary to urge your ustrous body
in the most emphatic to afford the swiftest
and most decided &c possible to the so.ey
slider that restoration of its value to silver by
Of international bimetalism is the surest and most
thorough remedy possible the committee has advised
unite in general petition against the single gold stand
ard The committee of the congress Of the German
body herewith s wit H0' first G install nstsnsns Of sueh
petitions received up to this time by the
bureau OF the congress- and to ask your
ers is known to the imperial government and we
thankfully acknowledge the help which has been prom
ised u.s. Unhappily the measures adopted far, and
particularly the increase of the duties cannot a
ford the necessary ad the contrary the condition
OF the landed interest has become deporable; aad
less help is shortly afforded general catastrophe is
inevitable The greater the necessity the more diff
cult becomes the alienation. The fear is wide
spread that special legislation is imperative to rescue
the landed interest of Germany from destruction In
wac md
your ilustrious body, and believe it be given
IN no such practical and eectual manner as by ef
to bring about international bimetalism.
the imputation that has been cast upon the German
land interest, Of wishing by means Of bimetasm to
deal unfairly with creditors. We protecting
selves against dear money. We demand for silver
only restitution to its old historic relations and we
see in this injustice to credtors-certainly in
justice greater than the injustice done debtors by the
demonstration Of silver. The rise of gold in all
countries using silver and paper standards not only
checks the exports resulting from German industries
but it has also created competition with our Ger
man agriculture on the part of those countries which
are the largest agricultural producers against which
customs duties inadequate protection, because
gold rises rapidly in those countries to point be-
yond the amount of the duties and thereby practical
y annus the defensive value of those duties. We
press opinion to whether the adoption of biet
alism, without the support of England, may may
not be to some branches Of the whole
sale and export trade of Germany. What we do say
s that the existence Of the industry and the land in
terest of Germanyis of greater Importance than
Hypothetical disadvantage to foreign commerce
and to our banking and exchange classes. Even as
regards these it does not TO charitable to wait
much upon the action of England Our actual neces-
sites afford much stronger reason for speedy under
standing between the German empire and such other
states as have long been ready to adopt this
and to effect general bimetasm May your illus
rious body hear this cry of distress of the German
farmers. and give effect to petitition.
This means business. Negotiations appear
to be now going on between the representatives
OF the agricultural interests as such and the
powerful party led by Herr Windthorst which
ara likely to make this silver movement In Ger
many as important, relatively. ere long, as the
silver movement in our own country"