The German and Russian Governments are cultivating friendly relations by
a war of tariffs. The Russians have just imposed duties on foreign iron which will, it is said, almost ruin the Silesian factories, and have at the same time prohibited German ironmasters from setting up or extending iron- foundries on Russian soil. The Germans, who feel economic blows as no other people do, are so irritated that the Russian order will greatly diminish the Parliamentary opposition to Prince Bismarck's new taxes. He proposes to pay for the increase to the Army by increasing the duty on spirits, and by doubling the tax upon imported corn. As Germany imports wheat chiefly from Russia, this will greatly increase the distress in the Southern Provinces, already suffering severely from the- fall in the price of cereals. Properly speaking, Russia should retaliate by prohibiting German goods, and Germany rejoin by banning all Russian produce, after which there would be nothing- to be done except to sit sulkily lamenting the decay of trade. Free-trade does not of itself insure amity, as witness North and South, England and Ireland ; but a war of tariffs can only produce hostility. The human race appears upon such questions to be absolutely nnteachable.
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