The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-02
GERMAN AGRARIANS.

A number of correspondents have asked
what the Agrarian movement in Germany
means, and what are the people making
I'D that movement. 1t Is asked as 10 wheth-
err they are Socialists or Liberals. or
whether they are the farming class which.
while 1t Is usually very sturdy In advocat-
ing sound principles. very often goes OFF
and supports those policies which are not
only bad for the farmers, but for every
body else as well AS a matter OF fact, the
Agrarian movement in Germany is not
movement started by the farmers as till
ers OF the soil, but by the land owners.
They are Agrarians in the sense that their
income is derived from farming lands and
naturally, the people who till those lands
which have proved Improbable trust TO
their landlords or lessons TO say that there
must be some reason why the lands do not
produce enough 10 satisfy either the ten
ant or the landlord.
II has come TO be serious matter in
Germany, and the most serious difficulty
with which the German has TO deal today
Is one that threatens to affect the entire
empire. and especially in its relation TO the
United States as producer OF grain and
cattle. cotton, wool and other agricultural
produce, as well as Of such manufactured
articles as compete with the same things
made in Germany. Having by conquest
acquired territory TO the South. East and
Northwest, the German empire has to sup
port an enormous military establishment
Officers and soldiers are largely drawn from
the landed proprietors. farmers and peasant
". and although the cities have increased in
population much faster than the country,
vet Il Is acknowledged by persons who
know what is the best material for the
army. that a city population is very in
ferior 70 one born and bred IN the country.
This would not cut so much OF figure
among people interested in their
own homo affairs. but In Ger
many, ana Prussia especially. ~
has had the thought OF all The
leading men. and OF course the only lead
ing men are those who talk and think about
soldering In order to keep the army al
SIS highest lghtlng strength the country
people must be maintained. The low price
Of grain IS driving the country people 70
tho wall They cannot pay their laborers.
The efforts made in some places TO restore
the equilibrium OF population by replacing
on the land = small farming community
ara only partially successful, and give no
promise of being permanent IN results.
People Win not remain in the country. Emf
gration conU-}es. The people who farm
their land find that they have 70 engage
temporary lab1rers instead az those who
were formerly attached to the owners ana
the soil The farmers. and tsis means the
loyal mobiles who think they should be al
lowed to attend to yAeir lands without ex-
actions. md that keeping Mp great milf
tary empire calls for heavy raw from them.
ana. therefore. while they are not disposed
20 ana faalJ with the reign. which they
think is divine, they Do believe thar some
;hing Is wrong.
The draft upon these people has been
/ something awfal. especially in Prussia
where Al Land owners. 10 matter what
/ the rank, are poor. But evervthin-
! there after the Austrian war was rrn On
a boom scale. Noble aad other fann,s.
With Land began 20 live or scale their
+ fathers and grandfathers never dreamed
/ %. The sons were PLACED in crack rexi.
rueots. some OF which 5o8ay boast Of h,,--
/ lnE for Officers no one with lower .,r,s
than count. ana propretors were A.srlenes
With debts or liens for the education rrs
( support 81 various members q the san,tl,,
uct 90 speak Of debts Tor the mairteuan,s
( Of those in the army whose pay vas IN
adequate 10 support ;heir Official ana So
ciai rank. The nohles. TIE farmers. and
| small proPytetors in Prussia have been
gatAesins strength IN tAs IAa9tag. or