Show protective ottie Prot Pr octive im ingermann Germany in tholise Th the vise efforts of chancellor and of tile the ministers of tho the czar to mitigate tho the tariff systems of their respective countries by means of a i commercial treaty are threatened with defeat by the agrarian interests of germany it is a fact that germany is incapable of producing sufficient bread anti and meat for her hei teeming millions and hence tho the duties on the necessaries of living aro a grievous burden to the german masses mames the popular discontents dis contents caused by this system have much to do in recruiting the ranks of the socialists and other enemies of alio gennaci government if the coni lassof laws of germany should bo moderated russia in ordinary seasons would bo be able to supply tho the german people with an aa abundance of cheap food but an ail agricultural congress now ip session in berlin and composed of delegates from till all portions of the empire has sent a deputation to emperor william with a protest against a commercial treaty that bould bring russian products into competition Nit lithe prod nets of germany the evasive answer of the emperor indicates that lie ho is by no means convinced of the truth of the assertion that this treaty would i uia the german farmers far meis much as ho he may feel tho the weight of the political influence of the agricultural interests ilo ho very plainly intimated to the deputation that the internal peace of the empire is quite as necessary to agricultural prosperity as are high duties on wheat and pork while reduced duties would give the germans cheaper food and thus greatly repress the hostility to the government russia would afford a large market for many german manufactures notwithstanding tile enormous enon duties on agricultural implements russian manufacturers are unable to meet the scanty home demand which is supplied by germany and england and to a small extent by the united states stater from the prohibitory duties the manufacturers of russia who aro sro P mostly foreigners rea c lizo profits mainly at the expense pense ev af of te V i agricultural ai to ri interests secure in their protection I 1 against foreign competition the I 1 manufacturers at the same time i neglect c elect lect I 1 all improvements improvement sin in production f j I 1 in view of these considerations the I 1 russian government tow to whom hoin the agricultural interests exceed all others in importance lias has readily entered into the negotiation of a commercial treaty with v iab germany to provide for lower duties upon german manufactures and upon russian breadstuffs bread stuffs and provisions the advantage of such an arrangement to both countries is manifest but class interests in germany may prove more powerful than considerations for the tl general welfare in ili this political juncture tho the votes of the agrarian representatives in the are needed by the government for the army bill this question once settled chancellor caprisi caprivi could deal more resolutely with the duties on bread and meat but with the agrarian interests pressing him on ono one side and the socialists pressing him on the other ho he is obliged to proceed with great caution in order to keep his footing Philadel philadelphia pLia record |