The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-05
THE NEW GERMAN TARIFF.
An Appeal by the saxon Commercial
Treaties Union.

/ saxon Commercial Treaties Union has Is
( sued the following appeal TO its members
and all others interested IN the CONNER
| cial welfare OF Germany
The new tariff has been published, and
I the hopes of the German people for
| continuance of a liberal policy, whereby
| commercial treaties might be- negotiated
/ with other countries. have been destroyed
| Against every expectation that single
4 tariff would be proposed on the import
] of grain. a double tariff has been ouuin-
/ ed which viii cause marked increase IN
! the cost of living The resolutions OF the
! different chambers Of commerce through
| out the country, which are the lawful rep
| rDsCH-attves of commerce and industry,
/ have been totally disres arded- In order
( to satisfy the interests of number of
| large landed proprict0rs. the German En-
| pire Will try a preCariOus experiment
! There are foreign countries consumers OF
German manufactured products, which
| lay great stress upon the value OF the
! German market for their foodstuffs and
raw materials The passing of double
! tariff on grain will render impossible the
/ chances Of securing satisfactory comm-r-
| cial treaties with these -ountTies. and a
! tariff war viii be inevitable
For many years. the Industries of the
! German Empire have become more and
| more dependent upon the export Of man
ufacturcd products. Under the present
/ tariff. the nation has enjoyed unparalleled
1 commercial prosperity. During the past
ten years our exports have decreased
/ S2GI. 800. 600 One-hfth Of the entire popu-
lation is directly dependent for existence
/ upon our export industries II we permit
these to decline the Empire will no long
IT be able to maintain her position as a
commercial and political world power.
! 1T is nothing short Of mockery TO con
sole the Iaboring classes with the doctrine
that a higher tariff will increase the pur-
chasing power OF the home markets The
increase in the expense Of living viii BY
far overbalance any possible gain, ana
the evil results will be felt in every part
OF the Empire That there Will be a pro-
uortionate increase in the rate o. wages
is a faIIacy. for the reason that manutac-
| turers Will be compelled TO reduce not
only the wages, but the number OF men
! employed as well. A ruinOus crisis VIII
De the logical outcome Of such a policy,
and viii lead 70 the emigration or skilled
labor which can no longer and employ
ment in the country Our capitalists VIII
be obliged 10 seek fields for investment in
countries which present more favorable
conditions.
try VIII receive no lasting benefits. From
1850 10 lE5 the highest prices on record
were paid for grain Of every description
Yet this was the period OF greatest emil
grafton to foreign Countries time when
the small strips n land belonging 20 the
peasant were absorbed 10y adjoining es-
I Jates, AID q general depppulaupn Of the
country villages In favor ~ the cities &C
CURED. Il is the peasant who has an in
tyTtst in su-talDiug the purchasing power
of the industrial population. iHaSuluCh as
/ he receives thereby higher prices for
| milk. cheese. eggs, meat, fruit. ETC. high
prices for fOOdsJuns. however, would re-
Z GuCc this PURCHASING power
The German people have s1cc"eded
/ through the aEJHt buol or energy. econ
/ Umy, and Idtieuce. In securing prOml-
Ueut place Ia the markets OF the world
Within "a short time the merchant marine
I has been doubt "a. and "A powerful navy
I has been created 20 protect our com
Z maTCc- Time and money have been spent
I in searching for foreign markets and in
adapting our Industries 10 the wants OF
I the tra0z IN other countries. Are all
these efIOr-r. with their results, To- be rem
derCd VJlU less through policy which
/ VIII surely cause friction with other ma
lcus- N5fh-ug short OF a powerful move
I ment among the people can avert the
pending danger which hangs over people
Commenting on the appeal. the CONNER
cial agent says
This appeal sounds alarming and gives
the impression of being exaggerated The
! union. however. has some Of the most
| wealthy and influential manufacturers in
SaXOny among its members.
/ Three generations ago. Germany was
/ almost ar agrariaH State Ia 1852. 80 per
I cent Of the population followed agricul-
ture. Sc per cent Industry and commerce,
Z while all other pursuits were placed AT II
per cent In 1885, only Is per cent Of the
Z Inhabitants were engaged in agriculture.
while the number employed in the various
| branches OF industry and commerce had
/ risen 10 - per cent, all other yOcaIiODS
being placed at y per cent. Ia December.
1890, the population Of the Empire was
J6,3i5. 90 or this number. only One-third
may be said 20 have been dependent upon
agriculture for livelihood. while fully s.
per cent relied upon industry and com
| mUTcg Tor an existence Germany. Ike
England. although not to the same extent.
has sacrificed her agricultural interests
In order 10 become great exporting ma
ton. and the Importation Of Russian and
American grain has eNerted q powerful
p influence in bringing about this change
In 1875. Germany had a. 55J. g25 acres OF
land under cultivation. This included lands
I growing grain. gardens. and the vine
yards Of the Rhine country Apart from
this, there were 500 go acres Of pasture
land and meadows and 5i.l3sO63 acres de-
voted 60 forestry. or total Of l24.l& .s23
acres. without taxing into consideration
, ! spaces occupied by buildings and yards
p or the sandy wastes OF some Prussian
provinces. In 1893 fifteen years later the
area Of titled lands had increased only
l-a9SfJ4 acres During this same period.
the meadow and pasture lands were COM
PEELED 10 give way 70 the p!GW- while
large areas Of waste land were reclaimed
by the process of irrigation and boy the
planting Of trees.
"Iu spite Of the depopuIation Of the
| country villages and the influx of foreign
/ cereals, German agriculture has made
some progress. With UUCeaSiug labor the
peasant cOaNes livelihood from the ster-
lie soil Where the nature of the ground
permits. modern machinery has been i'm
! PRODUCED To some extent SeIf-biudsrs.
MN rfHs.