Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-09-04

thin but satisfactory to its people. A
few cities like Toronto, Montreal and
Winnipeg show healthy and in some
cases remarkable gains in population
But the rural districts DO not show
even healthy maintenance OF its
previous condition. Throughout
goodly portions of many OF the pro-
vinees there is actual loss recorded
both In wealth and population. In
asmuch a. the Canadian government
has during the past few years granted
valuable concessions and spent huge
sums Of money for public improve
mentt and commercial advancement,
10 the loyal Canuck the census 10 not
very pleasing. 1t certainly does not
afford striking example Of the superb
orfty OF their government over ours,
and Il . lesson on the tariff question
was 10 be drawn from the situation.
1t would not reflect upon the Republic
can party's policy OF protection. Our
own 10 good enough for us. and II the
present state OF affairs should con-
tinue for another decade by that time
Canada would be crying for a share OF
the best government on GARTH"
1t - q matter Of common belief that
all the governments of the old world
favor free trade and every suggestion,
made during the campaign OF last
year, that other countries had their
tariff duties on the importation OF
our products. was met with ridicule
rather than denial. As a direct result
pf the reciprocity clause In the Nc
Kinley bill Germany, on the first day
OF September, raised her embargo on
American pork. In reviewing the
situation that day the Chicago Inter-
Ocean said:
This is peculiarly good news at
this time. In view OF our enormous
crop OF corn, the real raw material
OF pork. Great credit II due Minis
ter Phelps for bringing about this re-
suit. It il now a long time since the
restriction was imposed, aud he has
succeeded where several predecessors
had failed.
1T is now about twelve years since
nearly all the governments OF the cor,i
tinent OF Europe interdicted the Inn
portation OF our pork, a few alleged
cases OF trichinae being the excuse, II
not the reason for it. Italy led oil
early in 1879, Germany followed suit
year later, and France still another
year later. No doubt there was n gems
vine scare, but all real apprehension
on that score disappeared long ago,
and the prohibition was restained, cs-
pecially IN Germany, out OF regard
Tor the interest of the German .ar -aers.
Tie German interdiction did not ex-
tend to all pork products unbii tie
ec.ct OF February 81, 1888. was issued.
Ham and bacon had be,a exempt
FROM the prohibition Of June, 1850,
but from that time on all hog meats
were barred out. Even the free ports
OF Hamburg and Bremen were forced
by the pressure Of the Imperial Gov
eminent into adopting this prohibit
tion- The Hamburg ordinance, passed
m April, 1888, was a very serious
restriction upon the American pork
trade.
I'm 1881, when the expectation OF
our pork reached it's maximum, about
20 per cent. OF the American product
was exported. The total value Of
the bacon, hams, pork and lard ex-
ported in 1881 was S10f $50. O65. In
1883 1t was only so, 966. 265. Great
Britain uses more OF our pork than
any other country. but Germany comes
next and France third. The shortage
In the grain crop OF Europe VIII mater
tally increase the demand for corn In
the concentrated form of hog product.
It IN probable that fully onehalf the
hogs In the world are In the United
States. Certain it is that besides feed
ing our own people we supply very
much more than half the market de-
mand for pork. The hog IL found in
all parts OF the country. but pork
packing for the general market Is very
nearly confined to the corn belt OF the
West. Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Kan
sas. Missouri. Texas, Ohio. Indiana,
and Kentucky are great corn States,
and have special reason to rejoice in
the removal OF the restriction on the
Importation OF American pork into
Germany. 1t means millions to the
corn belt.
"our pork IL no doubt freer from
trichinae than that OF Europe. Our
hogs roam the fields and live on grass
and corn, instead OF being cooped up
in noisome sites and fed on swill. But
The real difficulty II not 90 much In
The pork as in the people, who. to q
large extent in Europe. persist in eat
ing the pork raw. II 1t were proper
1y cooked the invisible animalculae
would be killed by the heat. Evsn
sailing and smoking very nearly de-
stroys the noxious power Of the para
site. II n harbaric 10 eat any meat
without cooking II. and on general
principles II ought TO be discouraged
The probable effect OF the discussion
of American pork In Germany will be
good in that respect.
"A customs union has been ne
fotiated between Germany and Aus.
triarHungary, by which grain may
be exported fson the latter country.
or countries. to the former duty free
II can not go into force until it has
been ratified by the legislative
branches Of the two governments
The agricultural influence Of Germany
may defeat ratifica tion. but II 1t does
not IL VIII Be the duty OF Mr.. Phelps
10 ask that America share N the free
iBtfng Of cereals Under the recl-
procity feature Of the Mckinley Law
that shouid not only be asked but
demanded This country imports q
great deal 81 heet sugar from Ger
many. and should not allow itself to
- d}ner{r<1i n q <nd nwofruf nv ira eourk-