New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-08
DIPLOMATIC ODDITIES.
FREE TRADE OBSERVATIONS AIRED in
CONSULAR REPORTS
STATE DOCUMENTS AS A VEHICLE FOR PoLITI-
CAL viEws-pRoFoUND REMARKS ON BURN

In LARGE part devoted to discussion OF German
affairs The principal contributors are CousuECen-
cral Raine at Berlin: Commercial Agent Smith. at
Marencc and Consul General Mueller. at Frankfort
Unfortunately for tn, American reader OF these re-
PORTS the writer's do not seem at all able to agree
amon- themselves regarding the meaning Of the facts
and figures collected BY thom. Saws Mr. Smith
The year 1887 blue one for business In
Gcrmany' Mr.. Mueller. on the other hand. saws :
at is safe to say that German trade holds its own
during the year and compares favorably with the
trade of the preceding twelve months" And Mr.
Ranc asserts The last year has closed under
about the same conditions and auspices as Its pro-
decessor.s
Regarding the effect OF protective tariff upon Ger
man industries Mr.. Bayard's free trade consuls give
unwilling hut sngularly unanimous testimony. Thus
Mr. Smith says:
Germany apparently prohting at present from her
protective policy The country 10 be in favor OF
experiment. otherwise it would not have adherents
enough in tho Rcchstag carry it forward.
The balance Of traie largely against Germany up
1882. but since then II has inclined 70 favor the Emp
1872 imports OF Germany amounted TO se-S43cOo
and the exports 1893 OC0 while in 1856 TINS rea'
ton was 500 9o2 600 500 225c0o inclusive OF pre-
eious metals showing decided reversal OF inc o
trade against the Empire 1t must be aiso borne IN n1
prices have been declining for some years ~ Tue
old the figures would be greater
Mr.. Ranc observes
Russia having excluded German manufacturers almost
entirely from and other countries conempat
ing steps all or less fortiy their argument
In favor OF higher by pointing TO the United States
a, showing that protection prosperity and full
purses for the Government well as to the people
4 CONSUL OF A POETIC TEMPERAMENT
dlscordaut note IS struck by MI Mueller now
ever. when he land this no doubt has greatly
pleased Nj. Bayardl
Opinion may have been divided in regard to the
possible effects Of screwng up the clamps on foreign i'm
ports, but IS no longer No doubling IhoHaS APP
pcars Protection dcgcncraicd into prohibition has called
Oh 2 war Of interests in Europe Gernanys many ana
repeated measures protection have been met with n"e
measures on part Of her neShbors IL Is sometimes
designated by the obnoxious term. retallanoh Du' IL Is
only reclprocaton doing one done by Inc worst
feature Of protection is its entire elishneS' Ohy
e one branch OF business protection IL wants. and
other branches may the North Sea for all they
care IL is not how Will help national economy Dut
how much viii it increase individuals
And so on through entire page OF ravlngs
Yet this same observer gives tables in his own report
covering the exports the United states declared az
his Consulate in ranfort from which it appears that
the net increase OF German exports to the United
siate, over those of the preceding year were IN
round numbers Sl3.212.OoO II this IS the increase
In single year, in a single consular district ana
affecting exports to a single country only, what
must not be the effect Of bencfcent protective
policy upon tie entire country
Eat Nj Mueller is not very good at figures. lie
paragraph in his report upon the subject OF Protec
ton of Birds Here he proves truly eloquent
The ind.scrmina,e slaughter Of birds Is one OF the
most crying evils Of the day If for no other reason
than those dictated by aestheticsn these little winged
creatures claims upon human protection The ap-
peal comes TO from all sides and is made by bus oil
all varieties. Our birds, those which once sang
GLAD songs among blossoms OF spring ana Duht
their among deghtng our little ones are
gone or are fas, going. 1t is only question OF time
when the meadow lark. which sprang up In our path In
the fields rins his notes Of ravshing sweetness de-
lighting long after the tired eye had lost power
TO follow the say. shall share the robins iate
by disappearing from our fields and gardens
The OF poor little tom-tit the most genial OF
all mans feahced friends. Gene TO the German IoV-
eminent with an Indignant protest, supplemented By an
appeal In the autumn and early months OF winter
thousands Of these gay little fellows are killed and
anDcd in the Thuringian Forest, whence they hnd the
way delicate tidbits TO the tables OF goumands ana
epicures in large cities Did men but stop TO THINK
when eating these dainty morsels, how little need they
have Of how much life ard freedom means to
these little creatures, judge from their glad
songs merry would they not pause ana pohdef
over the suferngs endured by these little fellows, ana
would they refuse to eat another one feopie
in the country subject Inconvenience and many
losses from annoying and destructive insects are lndls
pant at the wholesale destruction OF their bird friends
hut they are poweress. Time when newspapers
cried out against and Tabby the barn cats because
IN dearh Of mice and caused by their own faith
f,I watching, they took TO killing bird or TWO But
here is destruction less than wanon going on by
the wholesale, etc.
Want Of space forbids following Mr. Mueller in his
eloquent rot One IS prepared after it to hear him
sneak Of the pranks Of tickle fashion," and make
the profound obs ervatlon that the old is ever giving
place to the new"
PROFOUND ESSAYS ON TIE EUROPEAN QUESTION
More eloquent in his stupidity, however than even
MI Mueller. is Commercial Agent smith. by all odds
he the finest specimen in Mr. Bayard's fine coliec-
fftfa- nDl
mel, ont OF his report few here and there
10 show how he has missed his vocation. and how H.
stead Of being mere Consul, be ought 10 nave IT,
ceivcd diplomatic post Of tho first rank from me
present Administration. In the following sentence
for instance at the very beginning Of his essay, his
powers Of observation are at once disclosed: Tue
anxiety depicted on the faces OF men during the first
months Of the year has given place 10 an expression
d camness.n The reason for this look OF calmneSs
& TO be found according Mr. Smith. I'm the fact that
al Continental Europe seems TO be grand powder
magazine which stray spark ignite at any
time" Happy indeed lie adds in a burst Of un-
comfortable confidence IS situation and well Is
II for us that wide ocean rolls between and the
armed hosts Of Europe"
Turning in an easy and Off hand manner TO the sub
Iect OF international diplomacy and the relations ex-
lsiiug between France and Germany moro particu-
larry. Nj. smith remarks The map Of Europe needs
much reconstruction, and VII! receive II In time; bur
i; VII arise through clinical considerations and not
from unnatural calse>,- and he adds, with consider
atcness which both nations cannot fail to appreciate:
While admire the German nation have an
ancctonatc regard for the French Republic, and wish
TO see both dwell side by SIDE in amlty." stu
MIR smith Is inclined TO think that there is no
guaYaniec for .eace IN Europe long the old feId
Between the Ce and TcutOn lasts but he warns the
Fremch he time that 10 att ach the Germans
would be TO challenge manifest destiny and invite
a defeat existing in the nature OF things"
Having thus disposed Of France and Germany. MI.
smith, turning his attention 20 Russia. f. moved 20
remark: The relations between Russia and the Ger
man Empire also not cordial. A hug from
tie Russian bear seems 10 bo as much apprchcndcd
A. dig from the Gallo cock After such a aphic
,ccrufOn OF the stare Oi Europe looks naturally
forward to some philosophical deduction reflection
on the part of Mr. smith. and. TO be sure here 1t Is
While we look with deep regret upon the armed state
of Europe We can afford 10 regard with philosophical
Tranquility the antagOnsms which bcSot its nations
Thus much for poor old. cfete Europe Mr.. Smith
ha, disposed OF II In single sentence
For tho remainder. his report IS but dun re3iing
II true that he remarks that fortune has smiled on
,hc ~ II urovee an oasis