The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-02-13
A BAD SYSTEM ANYWHERE.

n BAD 81 STEM An WHERE.
The activity Of the agrarlans in Ger
many just now is especially noticeable
ana is CT particular interest to US be-
cause the protective legislation which Is
sought by them rs designed chiefly
against imports coming from the United
S. ates
"A rather novel thing to US about these
agrarian demands in Germany Is that
taey ave raised by the agrlcultursts
Win us the cry for government pro-
tyctior comes from The manufacturers.
Tue, our agriculture IS supposed TO be
80 easily capable Of holding its own with
tAe world ana our food ana agricultural
y oGu,ts are so greatly ia excess of home
needs tblt protection DIS not deemed to
Ge necessary. But as matter OF fact
millions Of dollars worth OF raw material
sic imported annually as the aAasis Tor
manufactures which not only enjoy tariff
protection themselves but secure many OF
tfcse articles Gaat enter into manufAc-
cue FREQ OF duty
The eject CT the american tariff, there
fore, S 20 put the agriculturists at the
mercy Of the manuHacturer-t many are
made ITO ray tribute TO the few
In Germany the idea is Just The re-
verse. They go upon the theory that
ag9aLiture is the backbone OF The ma
zion, as bt were, the basis of comfort and
independence and wealth. II apy trleuge
Is to be paid by one class to another
they hold that the manufacturer should
wait upon 1.-The agrlculturist, thai tho few,
should not be allowed TO pllnder the
many, although tthe disproportlon between
the farmers and the industrial .cla5see .is
not near so great in Germany as in tro
United States
But whether the principle OF protection
be applied in Germany or in America it
is vicious, and unjust for it compels. In
either case, one class to contribute di-
rectly and by act of law to the ag-
grandfsement OF the other. The prohibit
tion against American meats or bread
stuffs in Germany forces millions OF the
people engaged In Industrial enterprises
to lay To the German farmer a b.g bonus
on the necessardes Of life. or onen 80
hungry, while cur American worklngmau
and fa-mer pay eXorbt ant prices for the
manufactured articles ne is compelled to
lave.
In both cases il is rank government
discrimination and yiolative OF natural
rights and the natunll laws Of trade.
We in America, However. are estopped
by our own policies from crlueisiug the
extreme and persistent demands OF the
German agrarians, In faot, they largely
justify their action 10y the narrow exam
pie we have set them. And it 10 possible,
II net probable, that before long we shall
see THE much mooted European league
formed against US and keenly feel the
effects upon our foreign trade.
All such systems. al last are founded
in radical error. They are barrie
against tiade and the enlightened public
opinion of The future is sure to so regard
them and TO abandon them in conse-
quence. England is a conspicuous ex-
ample Ct THE free trade principle and TO-
cay she leads the world in commercial
greatness II instead o, manipulating their
tariffs and listening 90 their selfish pro-
tseaon.sts and graspine agrarians the
United States ana Germany would lola
Enghhd in interfering their commerce.
both would doubtless soon see a trade
they hld net dreamed Of Each might al
first experience had half hour. but in
terests OF all kinds would soon adjust
themselves to new and natural conditions,
f2ycritiFm would disappear aud injustice,
under tae form Of law would BIO done 10
no enc.