The important meeting of German peasant farmers at Greifswald ought
not to pass unobserved. We have heard so much of the grievances, real or alleged, of the Agratians, that we are apt to suppose that the German " rarals "are united in support of general reaction and of extreme Protection. But the attitude of the Prussian squires is not that of the peasants, as this conference revealed. Protectionism as demanded by the Agrarians was denounced on account of its bad effect on the town markets, where high prices render it impossible for the artisans to raise their standard of living, and consequently to make any effective demand on the small producer. Therefore, not only are the industrial classes of Germany being impoverished by a high tariff, but the smaller agricultural producers are also being injured, the sole bene- ficiaries being the landlords. Germany is reproducing English experience. English history has demonstrated that a crowded industrial community can only make progress by Free-trade. The German Kaiser apparently wants to push German trade while "protecting" the Prussian squires. That is an im- possible task, as he will discover.
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