New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-15

EIGN COUNTRIES FOR FOOD-TiiE MEAN
ING OF MARTIAL LAW.
Bread has Justly been described as the staff
- Hfe II is not only the ideal. but also the
ss&usl embodiment of what is meant by the ex-
vrsadon, 1.-THE necessaries Of existence" Conse-
ouenty when. for one reason or another. the
prtee OF bread goes up the rise is not only pro
tpcHve OF cruel hardshlps among the poorer
daspes for whom it constitutes the principal
md In some cases. the only nourshmcnt. but 1t
newise creates alarm and apprehension among
H. we'll o-do. who. without actually feeling In
tAelr purse the augmented price Of bread. never
Neiess gather the impression that il means an
economic upheaval and a national danger. They
en- hardly be blamed for this For nearly every
national revolution has been begun by means
4 bread riots since the days Of the Reign Of
Terror when Queen Marie Antonette made her
honorable comment on the popular cry for
hread to the effect that IL there was no bread
D. masses could surely content themselves with
saka
The bread riots in Europe. which now threaten
Dc existence not only Of the Spanish throne but
likewise OF the Italian crown and OF the French
Cabinet. are, roughly speaking due to the fact
dat with the exception OF Austria Hungary and
4 Russia there Is not a single country In
Europe that produces anywhere near . sum-
cent amount OF grain for national consumption
b France. for instance. as much as 30 per cent
4 the grain annually consumed has to be Inn
ported from abroad-ths. too. in spite OF the
efforts made by the various Old World govern
ments to promote agriculture
Heavy duties have been imposed upon foreign
grain with the object Of protecting the native
hrmer and landowner. and in the hope OF Ar
rHgting the tendency OF the masses TO restrict
their attention to manufacturing Industries AZ
moro remunerative than agriculture But tho
6uties. instead Of benehting domestic agricult-
mo have merely served TO benefit the middle
man-that is to say. the grain dealer and broker.
With the consequence that the public have annu-
my become more and more dependent on for
dgn breadstuhs.
Until about twenty years ago most OF the grain
consumed in Europe was obtained from Russia
But the Turco- Russian War had the effect Of
liverting the trade from Odessa and other South
Russian ports to the United States and ever
dnce then the European nations have relied
vpon this country for their grain. And now.
wing to the war with Spain. and to the conse-
(uent increase Of freight and Insurance rafeA
be price OF imported grain has gone up to such
a extent In Europe as TO place the masses IN
several Of the countries, such as. for Instance.
Spain Italy and France. face to face with
&arvat!on.
WHERE THE LOAF 10 AN IMPORTANT ITEM
The price Of a loaf Of bread counts but little
b the eyes Of the rich man. save In abstract
ind Ideal sense Even the American working
man with his relatively high wages can remain
Indifferent thereto. But in Europe. where the
wages Of labor are small beyond all American
conception. and where the workingman Is ex
pected 10 keep his wife and his family on 81 80
md s. week the increase in the price OF a
baf OF bread By few cents is matter
II vital consideration and entails the suffering
u the pangs Of hunger.
Perhaps no better Illustration Of the subject
can be given than the figures just published by
DE French Government According to these. the
annual consumption Of wheat in France amounts
70 40 100000 hcctOlitrcs. whereas the annual
Production does not exceed in the best years
W0OO,0o0 hcctolitrcs. and last year amounted to
emily 100000 hcctolitres so that 100000
hectoliires have to be imported from abroad;
Ind it is hardly necessary TO say that whenever.
through one reason another, there is any
Particular scarcity Of grain the brokers and
eeaers as we'll as the domestic farmer. take
l nvantage thereof TO increase the price to as
i ugh figure is possible.
Il AL the present moment the price Of grain in
l europe is higher than at any previous time FOR
! twenty years Indeed there are some authori-
l ueS who allege that there has been nothing in
"e present century to compare with the phe-