New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-03
TILE COMMERCE or GERMANT.

Cor,n,orcioI rivalry between the United States
and Germany wakes hot on the German side
Concern for IL does not greatly disturb the
placid if rapid. stream Of American progress
But in the Fatherland they are greatly moved
The spectre Of American supremacy-lf so we
nav term n most real and substantial thing
IS more portentOus TO German eyes than Made
in Germany" has ever been to England. Inc
Germans have found out that the United states
is n great manufacturing as well as aGrlcut
ural Nation and that not only are our bread
stnffs and meats and fruits becoming lmpor-
tant features Of their markets. but so are
American textile fabrics and leather goods and
machinery Of iron and steel And while Ger
many Is stralning every nerve to rival Great
Britain and surpass her, in Industries ana COM
merce. she has Just come to the unpleasant
realization that there is another nation that
must be surpassed before she can lead the
world in trade.
The rise OF German commerce dates from
the rise Of the German Empire. Before ISL
the separate States could or did do little for
the extension OF German trade. Since then that
trade has been pushed in every possible way
with marked success. The various States nave
promoted industrial and commercial education
as no other nation in the world has done. Inc
consulor service has been raised to n pitch OF
efficiency that Is ulriyllled and unique. Home
industries have been fostered by tariffs ana
bounties on a scale never dreamed OF by Amer-
can Protectionists while lavish subsidies have
done the same for the shipping industry. NO
whore else In the world do politics and trade
work so closely together. The result is seen
in a wonderful expansion Of German industry
and commerce. man is educated by the
State 10 he an effective producer. He IS pro-
tected in his industry by an imperial tariff
He receives m export bounty on his goods
lie ships them on subsidized steamer 10 port
where a trained German Consul and n swarm
OF commercial agents have created a market
for them And naturally, he sells them at
nroft and German trade advances by leaps
and bounds the world over. The only wonder
about it IS that any one should wonder at H.
To what extent the process will continue IS
m Interesting problem for future solution
Much more progress must be made II Great
Britain is 10 he surpassed. for the latter ex-
norris about one-third more domestic produce
than does Germany. The figures Of such eX
norris IN 1897 were for Great Britain, Sill
0oS 540 and for Germany, $3.50, 900, and for
the United States I'm the same year, 5000
1886 There will probably be n steady
though not large increase in German trade for
the next five years. and n larger increase in
the trade Of the United States, placing IT de-
cidcdly ahead Of all other nations, while Great
Britain will come second with almost sta
tionary figures In 1901. however Germany
will reach n crucial point in her commercial
history Al the beginning Of that year her
commercial treaties with nearly all the Eu-
ropcan Continent. excepting France. expire
The form in which they are renewed VIII de-
termlne her commercial future. Already the
campaign has begun. Government officers and
private agents are busy collecting data hearing
upon the subject. or upon certain phases or H.
And from this time on there will be increasing
pressure upon the Government to do this for
the good Of this industry. and that for the
CooG Of that We may expect the net result
tn he for the advancement Of German CONNER
clal interests. and then the real rivalry he
tween Germany and Great Britain will be
GIN with the United States unless it com
mits some inconceivablc foy-at 4 safe dis
tance in advance Of both.