LECTURES AND ESSAYS READ AT INSTITUTES. 173 



America seriously curtails the food supply of France, and there is no other 

 source wherefrom the demand can be supplied." 



It is not possible, however, to shut out these products entirely; and probably 

 a part of the recent increased exportation of pork products from this country 

 to England is to be accounted for by the alleged practice of reshipping 

 American goods to other European countries as English products. 



A word may be said regarding a suggested method of retaliating upon 

 France. A member of congress the other day urged that the way to bring^ 

 France to her senses is to inspect her wines entered at our custom houses and 

 rigidly exclude adulterated articles. This action, if we may believe all that is 

 alleged, would surely bar out a great deal that passes for wine. And it is a 

 curious fact that there has been no notable falling off in the importation of 

 French wines so-called, in spite of the deadly ravages of the phylloxera in 

 those vineyards. Adulteration is very probably practiced. But suppose we do 

 this and France removes her unreasonable restrictions, shall -we then give up 

 our inspection and begin again to drink poisonous compounds without asking 

 any questions? That would be an entertaining spectacle; but it is the logical 

 outcome of the proposed measure. If we are after retaliation, the adultera- 

 tion of French wines is the last thing we want to ascertain. We had better 

 shut out all French 'wines for a time, so that we can meet French concessions 

 ■without making fools of ourselves. By this course, unless that country quickly 

 came to terms, we should bring about an incidental result of considerable 

 importance — that is, a gi'eat stimulation of wine production in this country ;. 

 and moreover, a vast quantity of domestic wine that is now dressed up in 

 French labels would appear in its true character. 



In all probability, no scheme of retaliation will be tried, and the trouble 

 will disappear in time through tlie operation of natural and irresistible forces. 

 What we want is likely to come about quite as soon in this way. Meantime, it is 

 to be remembered that these countries really afford a market for a compara- 

 tively small part of our surplus food products. 



Since the foregoing was written a very active discussion has been kept up iu 

 Congress and in the public press, and it seems to me that the continued dis- 

 cussion is leading to counsels of moderate action. It is at any rate unwise to 

 take measures of retaliation before giving foreign governments official assur- 

 ances of the facts ascertained by correct scientitic methods. Official inspection 

 of meats at ports of exportation would seem to be one thing that should be 

 secured. Congress has called for the correspondence of the department of 

 state with foreign governments concerning this matter. These papers will no 

 doubt throw much light upon the subject. Ilecent advices from abroad 

 indicate that public opinion in France and Germany is making itself heard in 

 this matter. They are discussing a revision of the national constitution in the 

 French parliament, but the newspapers are loudly declaring that cheap meats 

 are of more importance. The cry is for bacon before amendments. In 

 Germany the learned Professor Virchow declares that the alleged ground of 

 the action of the government is " all moonshine.*' 



THE BALANCE OF TRADE. 



It is rare that one hears any discussion of foreign trade without hearing, 

 something about the so-called balance of trade. In recent years our exports 

 have been largely in excess of our imports, and the surplus products of our 

 farms have made this condition of trade possible. Shall we consider it a for- 

 tunate or an unfortunate state of things? This is a question upon which 



