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are requisite to raise a national industry to that stage to which
the German industry has already attained； who cannot in spirit
foresee the greatness of its future； who could so grievously
disappoint the confidence which the German industrial classes have
reposed in their Governments； and so deeply wound the spirit of
enterprise in the nation； who was incapable of distinguishing
between the lofty position which is occupied by a manufacturing
nation of the first rank； and the inferior position of a country
which merely exports corn and timber； who is not intelligent enough
to estimate how precarious a foreign market for grain and timber is
even in ordinary times； how easily concessions of this kind can be
again revoked； and what convulsions are involved in an interruption
of such a trade； occasioned by wars or hostile commercial
regulations； who； finally； has not learned from the example of
other great states how greatly the existence； the independence； and
the power of the nation depends on its possession of a
manufacturing power of its own； developed in all its branches。
Truly one must greatly under…estimate the spirit of nationality
and of unity which has arisen in Germany since 1830； if one
believed； as the author of the report does （p。 26）； that the policy
of the Commercial Union will follow the separate interests of
Prussia； because two…thirds of the population of the Union are
Prussian。 But Prussia's interests demand the export of grain and
timber to England； the amount of her capital devoted to
manufactures is unimportant； Prussia will therefore oppose every
system which impedes the import of foreign manufactures； and all
the heads of departments in Prussia are of that opinion。
Nevertheless the author of the report says at the beginning of his
report： 'The German Customs Union is an incarnation of the idea of
national unity which widely pervades this country。 If this Union is
well led； it must bring about the fusion of all German interests in
one common league。 The experience of its benefits has made it
popular。 It is the first step towards the nationalisation of the
German people。 By means of the common interest in commercial
questions； it has paved the way for political nationality； and in
place of narrow…minded views； prejudices； and customs； it has laid
down a broader and stronger element of German national existence。'
Now； how does the opinion agree with these perfectly true prefatory
observations； that Prussia will sacrifice the independence and the
future greatness of the nation to a narrow regard to her own
supposed （but in any case only momentary） private interest that
Prussia will not comprehend that Germany must either rise or fall
with her national commercial policy； as Prussia herself must rise
or fall with Germany？ How does the assertion that the Prussian
heads of departments are opposed to the protective system； agree
with the fact that the high duties on ordinary woollen and cotton
fabrics emanated from Prussia herself？ And must we not be compelled
to conjecture from these contradictions； and from the fact that the
author of the report paints in such glowing colours the condition
and the progress of the industry of Saxony； that he himself is
desirous of exciting the private jealousy of Prussia？
Be that as it may； it is very strange that Dr Bowring attaches
such great importance to the private statements of heads of
departments； he an English author who ought to be well aware of the
power of public opinion who ought to know that in our days the
private views of heads of departments even in unconstitutional
states count for very little if they are opposed to public opinion；
and especially to the material interests of the whole nation； and
if they favour retrograde steps which endanger the whole
nationality。 The author of the report also feels this well enough
himself； when he states at page 98 that the Prussian Government has
sufficiently experienced； as the English Government has done in
connection with the abolition of the English corn laws； that the
views of public officials cannot everywhere be carried into effect；
that hence it might be necessary to consider whether German grain
and timber should not be admitted to the English markets even
without previous concessions on the part of the German Union；
because by that very means the way might be paved for the admission
of the English manufactured goods into the German market。 This view
is in any case a correct one。 Dr Bowring sees clearly that the
German industry would never have been strengthened but for those
laws； that consequently the abolition of the corn laws would not
only check the further advances of German industry； but must cause
it again to retrograde greatly； provided always that in that case
the German customs legislation remains unchanged。 It is only a pity
that the British did not perceive the soundness of this argument
twenty years ago； but now； after that the legislation of England
has itself undertaken the divorce of German agriculture from
English manufactures； after that Germany has pursued the path of
perfecting her industry for twenty years； and has made enormous
sacrifices for this object； it would betoken political blindness if
Germany were now； owing to the abolition of the English corn laws；
to abstain in any degree from pursuing her great national career。
Indeed； we are firmly convinced that in such a case it would be
necessary for Germany to increase her protective duties in the same
proportion in which the English manufactories would derive
advantage from the abolition of the corn laws as compared with
those of Germany。 Germany can for a long time follow no other
policy in respect to England than that of a less advanced
manufacturing nation which is striving with all her power to raise
herself to an equal position with the most advanced manufacturing
nation。 Every other policy or measure than that； involves the
imperilling of the German nationality。 If the English are in want
of foreign corn or timber； then they may get it in Germany or where
else they please。 Germany will not on that account any the less
protect the advances in industry which she has made up to this
time； or strive any the less to make future advances。 If the
British will have nothing to do with German grain and timber； so
much the better。 In that case the industry； the navigation； the
foreign trade of Germany will raise their heads so much the
quicker； the German internal means of transport will be so much the
sooner completed； the German nationality will so much the more
certainly rest on its natural foundation。 Perhaps Prussia may not
in this way so soon be able to sell the corn and timber of her
Baltic provinces at high prices as if the English markets were
suddenly opened to her。 But through the completion of the internal
means of transport； and through the internal demand for
agricultural produce created by the manufactories； the sales of
those provinces to the interior of Germany will increase fast
enough； and every benefit to these provinces which is founded on
the home demand for agricultural produce will be gained by them for
all future time。 They will never more have to oscillate as
heretofore between calamity and prosperity from one decade to
another。 But further； as a political power Prussia will gain a
hundred…fold more in concentrated strength in the interior of
Germany by this policy than the material values which she
sacrifices for th