The morning call., 1894-03-12
PROTECTIVE POLICIES OF FRANCE
AND GERMANY.

Inc new Russo . 0PTHlaN cODmeICihi
treaty will probably pass the Rechstag. in
spite of the protests of the agricultural
m EN- bers. It will reopen German markets
to Russian grain. in return for the
reopening of Russian markets to Ger
man goods. Ii is in fact measure
of reciprocity which satisfies all classes,
except the German farmers and the Rus
sian manufacturers; and in its essence IL
is logical outcome of the policy OF pro-
lection which Bismarck inaugurated.
The Issue between revenue and pro-
tective tariffs assumes different shapes IN
the various countries to which it is applied.
In France and Germany. as formerly in
England, it is contest between the agri-
cultural class and the inhabitants of cities.
In France the former have had the advau-
tage. They have been able to impose new
and high duties on foreign grain, which
has increased the cost of living in cities;
the protests Of the boards Of trade sll over
the country hare been disregarded by the
Chamber. In Germany. on the contrary.
il the new treaty is accepted by the Reichs-
tag, victory will rest with the cities, that
is TO say. with the artisans, mechanics and
labOrers; the farmers Will have to sell
d
artificial stimulus.
1t is instructive to mark the progress of
tariff legislation Ia Europe. AS long ago
as under the last empire it appeared to
the French Government that the agricul-
tural class were the dominant class in
France. and Napoleon Ill took his orders
from them. Protective duties on grain
had not then been thought of; but on the
issue of the day, which was clericalism,
the Government of the empire adopted
the views of the rural communes in oppo-
sltion to the views of the cities. When
the republic was established the French
wheat-growers demanded protection, and
in spite of protests from Paris. Rouen,
Bordeaux, Lyons and other seats of manu-
featuring industry they got what they
wanted, and the duty on foreign grain has
been raised year by year. The policy has
not excluded the foreign article. France
is still dependent On the foreign world for
one-fourth of her cereal food; but the
price of bread is higher in the cities than
it was ten or fifteen years ago.
The situation in Germany is different
Bismarck favored the cities in preference
10 the rural districts Under his tariff of
1879. as amended in 1885. imported wheat
paid duty of II cents per 800 pounds and
imported flour DUTY of 81 20. When the
agriculturists grew TO be a power that
had to be reckoned with these duties
were respectively raised to 81 10
and 81 90. But notwithstanding these
imposts. when Russia prohibited the
export Of wheat IN 1891 German imports
of American wheat rose from 1902, 600
bushels in 1890 20 23.O65. 900 bushels in 1891
and &c, 509. 600 bushels in 1892 This led TO
angry protest from the native farmers
Wheat land in Germany is worth FROM 500
to $500 an acre. and at the current prices
of the staple the German agriculturists
declared that they could not live if Russian
wheat was readmited at moderate rate
of duty. Special causes have impaired the
profits Of German farming. Farms which
supported family In comfort at the BE-
ginning of the century are now expected
to support four. Much of the land is in
the hands of mobiles. who spend more than
their fathers did, and are constantly in
the hands of Insurers. Finally large pro-
portion of The farm land in Germany is
worn out and needs fertilizers, which only
a few landowners are willing to use.
rea dy to make trouble. The ratification
of the new Russo-German treaty will
leave them with a bad taste in their
mouths.
1t is curious how power has fluctuated
between town and country. In France
hundred years ago the country was moth
ing. the cities everything. All the French
revolutions of the century have been the
work of Paris alone. Now it appears ii is
the cities which are powerless and the
rural commnnes dominant. In Germany,
on the contrary, the rural population filled
the armies during the Napoleonic wars.
and the cities had little to say about public
affairs. Berlin, LeipsIc. Munich, SUIT
CART, Frankfort aud Hanover were &C.
cupied by beligerents without resistance.
Now it is the cities and the workingmen
who give the law to the farmers. AS
general rule the lord of creation is he who
owns patch on Gods footstool, but
great city sometimes usurps upon many
and holds 1t for quite while.