The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-07-23
THE OHIO BISMARCK,


power was supreme, and 1t is not to be
wondered at that the little Major took
the modern Napoleon, blunders and all,
as the great exemplar Of modern states
manship.
But a change came over United Ger
many. The old Kaiser, who entrusted
all civil affairs to Bismarck, passed
away, and a new Emperor arose. Bis.
marck stepped down and out, and En-
peror william IL. assumed the civil
functions of a sovereign in the inter
ests of an oppressed people, in addition
to military rule. He found the people
restive and oppressed by the high pro-
tective policy of Bismarck, and
his first attempts were to tear
down the walls of high tariff
with surrounding countries and estab-
lish laws for the protection of labor,
What Emperor william II has done
for United Germany, in retiring Bis
mark, the sovereign American people
have done for the little Bismarck in
the United States. Neither knows that
his power is gone, but the logic of
events Will bury them under the same
tombstone.
"Died of strangulation, from too
much protection"
In the July Forum will be found an
exposition of the causes leading to the
retirement of Bismarck, in paper on
emperor William II, His Character
and Policy" by Prof. F, Heinrich Gef-
feken, Privy Councillor. In reviewing
the reforms, the Emporer in his brief
reign has brought about, the Councillor
reviews the history of high protection,
under Bismark and its logical sequence,
and points out the obstacles which
confronted the peace and prosperity of
Germany before Bismarck was re-
tired. The reader will have no diff
Guilty in tracing the analogy between
Bismarck legislation in favor of the
agrarian and industrial classes, as
against the toiling millions, and the
Mckinley legislation in favor of trusts
and monopolies, versus the American
toilers. The Councillor, in pointing
out the phase of the Emporer's reform
policy,m most distasteful to Bismarck and
his followers, says: ,...r.
"He has, however, made one step
which is most distasteful to that party,
and which is perhaps the most impor-
tant reform-the treaty Of commerce
with Austria Hungary, to be followed
by similar ones with Switzerland,
Italy, Servia and other countries.
Prince Bismarck, originally, and still in
1875, was free trader; in 1878 he turned
proteCtionist, and thereby gave the i'm
pulse to the protectionist reaction which
has prevailed in Europe during the last
decade. He made q compact between
the agrarlans and industrials, the latter
agreeing to duties on foreign corn,
which was successively raised from one
to five marks and also duties on meat,
timber, ETC., while the agral ans con-
sented to reintroduce duties on iron
and to raise considerably those on
manufactured goods. The consequence
WaS the usual one Of protecti0ntSm-an
artificial impulse gioen to industry by
eUcludi,lg foreign competition, and
ocerproduction resulting from the in
creased internal competition. The Ger
man ooorkman had to pay more for his
bread, meat, and all the accessories Of
life than the English or Belgian, and
if this led TO a rise Of tOageS he did not
profit by it, oChile the manufacturer,
lOith higher aOGgeS to pay and the en-
hanced price Of ran materials, had
more dibtcttlty IN competing in foreign
markets. Consequently there has been
a considerable falling Off Of German er.
ports, and In ordernOt TO lose thetoreign
market the manufacturers haoe offered
their goods at lo1Oer prices, TetrieUtn9
Themselves Tor the ensuing loss by or
ganizing "ringS" and thus entorcing
proportionally higher prices. 1t ooaS
evidently an inconsistent policy to sub
Sidize raiI1DayS and lines Of tranS-At.
IGnticSteamerS, and then by high duties
to shut or GermanyJrom the goods they
brought. Life had become dear, and
the discomfort pre0ailin9 in the masses
aoaS aDater on the mill Of Social Democ-
TGcy.'
The above is the result of the policy
of the great Bismarck, repudiated by
Germany, 1t is the result of the policy
of the little Bismarck, repudiated by
America. The little Napoleon, alias
the little Bismarck, has been unfortu-
nate in his models,
THE Cleveland Leader of Monday
1oho.o Aodgo,aIx uyrafoha adlu fhrOu0h q