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stationed at the mouths of the Weser and the Elbe； would be in a
position to destroy in twenty…four hours this work of a quarter of
a century？ But the Union will guarantee to these seaports their
prosperity and their progress for all future time； partly by the
creation of a fleet of its own and partly by alliances。 It will
foster their fisheries； secure special advantages to their
shipping； protect and promote their foreign commercial relations；
by effective consular establishments and by treaties。 Partly by
their means it will found new colonies； and by their means carry on
its own colonial trade。 For a union of States comprising
thirty…five millions of inhabitants （for the Union will comprise
that number at least when it is fully completed）； which owing to an
annual increase of population of one and a half per cent can easily
spare annually two or three hundred thousand persons； whose
provinces abound with well…informed and cultivated inhabitants who
have a peculiar propensity to seek their fortune in distant
countries； people who can take root anywhere and make themselves at
home wherever unoccupied land is to be cultivated； are called upon
by Nature herself to place themselves in the first rank of nations
who colonise and diffuse civilisation。
The feeling of the necessity for such a perfect completion of
the Commercial Union is so universally entertained in Germany； that
hence the author of the report could not help remarking； 'More
coasts； more harbours； more navigation； a Union flag； the
possession of a navy and of a mercantile marine； are wishes very
generally entertained by the supporters of the Commercial Union；
but there is little prospect at present of the Union making head
against the increasing fleet of Russia and the commercial marine of
Holland and the Hanse Towns。' Against them certainly not； but so
much the more with them and by means of them。 It lies in the very
nature of every power to seek to divide in order to rule。 After the
author of the report has shown why it would be foolish on the part
of the maritime states to join the Union； he desires also to
separate the great seaports from the German national body for all
time； inasmuch as he speaks to us of the warehouses of Altona which
must become dangerous to the warehouses of Hamburg； as though such
a great commercial empire could not find the means of making the
warehouses of Altona serviceable to its objects。 We will not follow
the author through his acute inferences from this point； we will
only say； that if they were applied to England； they would prove
that London and Liverpool would increase their commercial
prosperity in an extraordinary degree if they were separated from
the body of the English nation。 The spirit which underlies these
arguments is unmistakably expressed in the report of the English
consul at Rotterdam。 'For the commercial interests of Great
Britain；' says Mr Alexander Ferrier at the end of his report； 'it
appears of the greatest possible importance that no means should be
left untried to prevent the aforesaid states； and also Belgium；
from entering the Zollverein； for reasons which are too clear to
need any exposition。' Who could possibly blame Mr Ferrier for
speaking thus； or Dr Bowring for speaking thus； or the English
ministers for acting as the others speak？ The national instinct of
England speaks and acts through them。 But to expect prosperity and
blessing to Germany from proposals which proceed from such a source
as that； would appear to exceed even a decent degree of national
good nature。 'Whatever may happen；' adds Mr Ferrier to the words
above quoted； 'Holland must at all times be considered as the main
channel for the commercial relations of South Germany with other
countries。' Clearly Mr Ferrier understands by the term 'other
countries' merely England； clearly he means to say that if the
English manufacturing supremacy should lose its means of access to
Germany or the North Sea and the Baltic； Holland would still remain
to it as the great means of access by which it could predominate
over the markets for manufactured goods and colonial produce of the
south of Germany。
But we from a national point of view say and maintain that
Holland is in reference to its geographical position； as well as in
respect to its commercial and industrial circumstances； and to the
origin and language of its inhabitants； a German province； which
has been separated from Germany at a period of German national
disunion； without whose reincorporation in the German Union Germany
may be compared to a house the door of which belongs to a stranger：
Holland belongs as much to Germany as Brittany and Normandy belong
to France； and so long as Holland is determined to constitute an
independent kingdom of her own； Germany can as little attain
independence and power as France would have been enabled to attain
these if those provinces had remained in the hands of the English。
That the commercial power of Holland has declined； is owing to the
unimportance of the country。 Holland will and must also；
notwithstanding the prosperity of her colonies； continue to
decline； because the nation is too weak to support the enormous
expense of a considerable military and naval power。 Through her
exertions to maintain her nationality Holland must become more and
more deeply involved in debt。 Notwithstanding her great colonial
prosperity； she is and remains all the same a country dependent on
England； and by her seeming independence she only strengthens the
English supremacy。 This is also the secret reason why England at
the congress of Vienna took under her protection the restoration of
the Dutch seeming independence。 The case is exactly the same as
with the Hanse Towns。 On the side of England； Holland is a
satellite for the English fleet unite it with Germany； she is
the leader of the German naval power。 In her present position
Holland cannot nearly so well derive profit from her colonial
possessions as if they became a constituent part of the German
Union； especially because she is too weak in the elements which are
necessary for colonisation in population and in mental powers。
Further than this； the profitable development of her colonies； so
far as that has hitherto been effected； depends for the most part
on German good nature； or rather on the nonacquaintance of the
Germans with their own national commercial interests； for while all
other nations reserve their market for colonial produce for their
own colonies and for the countries subject to them； the German
market is the only one which remains open to the Dutch for the
disposal of their surplus colonial produce。 As soon as the Germans
clearly comprehend that those from whom they purchase colonial
produce must be made to understand that they on their part must
purchase manufactured goods from Germany under differentially
favourable treatment； then the Germans will also clearly see that
they have it in their power to compel Holland to join the
Zollverein。 That union would be of the greatest advantage to both
countries。 Germany would give Holland the means not only of
deriving profit from her colonies far better than at present； but
also to found and to acquire new colonies。 Germany would grant
special perferential privileges to the Dutch and Hanseatic
shipping； and grant special preferential privileges to Dutch
colonial produce in the German markets。 Holland and the Hanse
Towns； in return； would preferentially export Ge