The Germans are in some danger of beginning a bitter
quarrel with America. The Agrarian party, which has dis- liked the Navy Bill from the first, as a Bill essentially in the interest of commerce, are threatening to oppose it, and to conciliate them the Government offer protection against the importation of meat. They propose to forbid the importa- tion of all salted meat except hams, bacon, and tripe, and to surround the introduction of fresh meat with such restrictions as will involve practical prohibition. For example, the lungs, heart, and kidneys must not be removed from the car- cases, which will thus run an additional risk of be- coming tainted. The classes which consume meat are extremely indignant, but the Agrarians are immovable, and if the Government yield Washington threatens "a retaliatory tariff.' German merchants are desperately afraid of losing their American market, and may give up the Navy Bill rather than provoke a war of tariffs. The German Government, of course, have no wish to make meat dear, but the stock-raisers have, and between their obstinacy about profits and the Emperor's obstinacy about his Navy a very serious situation may be created. Nothing irritates Americans more than a tariff directed against them. They think them- selves at once cheated and insulted.
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