New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-04
GERMAN AGRARlA\S.
IMPORTANCE TO TIE AMERICAN FARM
ER OF THEIR RECENT OVERTHROW.
c,,rv,v HOSTILITY TO THE AGElrrLTtRAL EN-
FORTS OF THIS COUNTRY BITTER I'm
MERcIAL ANITA joN!sM.

r,o fortunes Of agriculture have been steadi'y
a..,i,i,e in Germany for twenty years ana
i,.o 1eup the situation has become crlt''""
~. c,ier causes are foreign competition an
on,i,uatea land system and the great burden
c IL ht. ra.tinr upon the land Many ehor'S
ho,o hocn made to introduce better economic
conduiors Voluntary associations OF FARMERS
hay, accomplished good deal Much H"'e '''
heon accomplished by the Government VIM
has taken hold Of various sides OF the prop''"'
with thoroughness and energy. but 'he i'o''
conspicuous Of the efforts 10 improve the SUI"
alton has been the political activity oil 'he
Asrarian League. II is the purpose oil inns paper
10 rive a short account Of tins league AN" ~
indicate the importance to the American ia''"e'
Of It's recent political defeat.
TIE AGRARIAN LEAGUE.
roua,d the close Of 1892 the hardships Of
agriculture I'm Germany had been considerably
Increased by a new fal in prices On twenty Nv =
yoors the nricc Of cereals had fallen about Az
per ccnp. and matters were swiftly pr"hsh' " ."
head when a large landowner Of Silcsa pub
lished a ringing appeal to the farmers oI Ger
many to save themselves from ruin by forming
a poli,ical party. Inclted 10y this and similar
appeals. an assembly Of several thousand far
a chief result the Agrarian League was founded.
1t is important to fix clearly in MIND from 'h'
outset the attitude OF the league toward the prob
lem in hand Any Legitimate EFFORTS To relieve the
prevailing distress were certain to meet hearty
support. But the choice ~ means actually made
by the League involved degree OF economic in
,usticc 90 other classes ~ thu population which
wa certain TO call forth determined opposition.
4 ic 81. haf K,
three ways Of improving the economic condition
OF agriculture.
Firstly lcsspnlnG tho coats Of produ't ton.
through Tho introduction - machinery and i'm
proved technique generally.
Second by intensity 'nE cultivation. so a. to
increase the output
Third by controlling tho market p'''"s of
agricultural products and labor
Nov. the Agrarian League Is almost ox"lu-
siy.lv Identified with efforts coming under the
lat head Tho resolutions passed AZ tn" Zinc
tho lragu" was founded. a. summarized IN ,hc
official handbook II the Conservative party. do
not name a single object as part of the League 8
programme which is not Intended to increase
the market price II agricultural produce or To-
lessen the cost of labor. TIE realization II such
aims manifcstly require special legislation. The
direct and single ol jet OF the League, then, may
be stated 10 bc the formation OF political
party to secure legislation favorable 10 agri-
culture.
The character OF the hgrarian aims VIII be
come fully clear II We glance for u moment at
the historical antccedents of the Agrarians. The
leaders Of the movement are the descendants OF
the old landed arisocrD'y Of Germany. They
the squires or junkcrs. az th"y are called
and petty mobiles of Easl Prussia They are
owners Of large estates. sim held largely on
semi-feudal terms. Tin this part Of Prussia there
are 4 IA domains 81 more than $50 acres
each, and 1JS Of this number surpass ZOO
acres in extcnt) As matter OF course. they in
herit the prejudices and preicnsons OF their
class They are born to special privileges. and
they regard themselves a. 10y right OF nature
the ruling class. They look upon the Govern
ment az cOntryance for securing them benc-
fits at the expense OF the lower classes. For
generations they have enjoyed special oXcmp-
tons from taxation, bOunties and subsidies. and
Government ais Of various kinds. They ask
most III hestatingly FOR similar assistance now.
AZ the time hat il founded the league
was not only dsapprOyci Of 10y The Govern
ncnt and opposed ny those parties il the Kcchs-
tag which represent industry and commerce.
but II was opposed even 10y many agrICulturists.
1ley thought it too demasogicdI feared that il
would fail - cement the agricultural masses
and that IT would allow Itself cxccss-s which
would provoke opposition even to its legitimate
demar ds. Nevertheless the league had at first
a rapid success The year 1897. Ike the two
preceding years. was very bad year i'm Germany
and the great unpopularity Of the commercial
treaties with Russia. which offered facilities for
the Transportation Of Russian grain and to