Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-05
Beginning Of Activity.

Beginning Of Activity.
The second chancellor had effected a
series of longterm commercial treaties
with Germany's continental neighbors,
deliberately favoring the fatherland's
then budding industries at the expense
of agriculture. Caprivi bartered low
rates on Russian wheat, Austrian rye,
Danish meat and dairy output, Hun
garian barley. etc, in exchange for
preferential duties on German manu-
features.
His treaties were the logical express
sion OF the fatherland's conversion
from an agricultural into an industrial
state. They proved the signal for war
to the knife between agrarianfsm and
all other forms of capital
The bund. which had spent it's ener-
gfes In the past on pigs, poultry and
pasturage. welded itself into a fight
Ing political phalanx. The organiza-
ton. under the battle cry of .'Agricul-
ture in Danger" rallied the farming
community like wlidfre.
Its strength and its influence increas-
ed by leaps and bounds. Industry and
agriculture became enemies instead of
allies in German national development.
Farmers sent only avowed representa-
tives of their own class to the Prus-
sian diet and the reichstag.
From these councils the hue and cry
of oppressed AGRICULTURE issued syste-
matically and necessarily. Agitation was
conducted with fierceness and audacity.
Profiting by the losses of small investors
throughout Europe in the speculative
craze. which terminated with the Barring
crash, the agrarians dealt their first vital
blow at the capitalist class by forcing the
passage of stringent bourse law. the
provisions Of which still hamper and ha-
rass the German financial world.
Then came the frenZied crusade against
the Prussian governments comprehensive
canalization scheme. which agrarians op-
position BACKED for months, and event
ually allowed to be realized only in emas-
culated form. Their browning revenge was
still to come.
ton in the opening years Of the new CEN
fury. To annihilate them and substitute
pacts of genuinely agrarian flavor be-
came the consuming ambition of the land
barons OF East and West Prussia. Pomer-
ania. Mecklenburg. Silesia and Branden-
burg.
Prince Bulow was to be made to atone
for the treachery of Count Caprivi. And
atone he did. An agrarian tariff law was
enacted by the reichstag in 1902, and on
It's basis new treaties were concluded
which betrayed manufacturers relentless
ly in order that grain, cattle and dairy
products might benefit.
The position won by the German indus
rivian conditions was demolished Pho
neering work of twelve years had to be
begun all over again.
Exercise Full Power.
Encouraged by such substantial trophies
CT power and triumph, it was natural tina,
agrarianism should cease to be merely
selfish and become intolerant and AFRO
CANT. 1t henceforth blindly opposed legis-
lation and policies not Of essentially
agrarian trend.
Standing for the class from which Ger
many has always recruited it's fighting
the agrarians exploited the
army to fortify their political position.
Government both in Prussia and the em-
pire grew more and MORE helpless in the
face OF their demands.
The lions share not only of legislative
favors, but Of Official patronage, military
and civil. was usurped as their divine
right. Proclaimlng themselves the only
bulWark of the monarchy,
they became the self-appointed guardian
Of king and throne against the forces
Of disorder"
Prince Buelow felt constrained in 1907
% make public acknowledgment of the
submission to the yoke by expressing
he wish that his epitaph might read
He was an agrarian chancellor"
A popular couplet epitomizes agrarian
patriotism thus: "Unsor KONG ansolut,
wenn Er unseren Willen tut" eve are