The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-08-08
Attention, Battalion I!

Every dog has had its day, say and sway, and
so had shoulder-straps now is the turn of rank
and file. ~ .a. ,.t. ....
Having been one of the latter during the late
war, have had my eye on the corporal, would
give the word of command AneatiOn, BattaAi0n
to some of the sums summed up by some one
In recent speech the Hon. (horribe) five Bs,
Bottled Brute Beast b. Butler said in Congress
| that "two-thirds of the government bonds were
held by men east of the lakes q. G. IS factories
within miles, belonging to certain senator
believe son-in-law to the Hon. Chief Justice. J
Six of these factories are for wooden goods. the
others for cotton. The profits in 1868, it is esti-
mated, Melted in round numbers four millions of
dollars. In almost every factory of this descrip-
ton is a machine called the "Devil," differing
but little from the cylinder Of threshinp ma
chine, which tears up any material submitted to
Its action, IRON which it comes out "shoddy'
and is then carried to the "shoddy box" which
is square and holds about four bushels. through
the two opposite sides of which are about 100
holes, pushed with ivory, through which pass
yarns almost as fine as a spiders web. These
yarns revoive 900 times in minute, and pass
through the box at the rate of ten wards per
minute. As soon as these yarns are put in mo.
tion two boys shovel in the "shoddy," which is
taken up by tho yarns and comes out on the op-
poste side thick worsted yarn, sent to the
loom and manufactured into wooden cloth.
The soldiers clothes are issued to the rank and
file, who have to sign for them, and are then
charged to their accounts: and in case any hon
est fellow should make Just complaint of their
inferior quality, he is liable to be "bucked and
gagged strung up by the thumbs" or takes
ride on a rail
AT the rear of tho army was one very cana.
cious tent and three or four smaller ones, and
two or three teams with teamsters and a "boss"
who was furnished with special orders protecting
and giving authority to collect and gather up all
abandoned clothing, tents, ropes, &c. Never
mind whether they come from the embalming
quarters, or however filthy with dirt and vermin
they might be- they are baled up and sent to
New England or elsewhere, and are there sub.
jected to the action of the "Devir and made into
shoddy, &c, manufactured into an article worth
not more than so cts, sold to the government for
60 cts. i'll gold, for which the contractor takes
bond worth one dollar, which draws interest in
gold semi-annually, and the principal to be paid
III gold. dollar tor dollar, the same paying no
tax. Who wears this clothing? Who have to
to pay just what the seller thinks proper TO
charge! There's no compettion--you can't run
to any other store-but you are compelled to
take them at their prices. Why? Rank and
file, to be sure. And who gets rich by it? The
manufaeturer-the would be Soldiers friend"
Hence the great }oya|ty of the New England
States. These are the men to help the govern
ment i'll its day of need. First sell an article
worth 30 cts to rank and file for GO cts, and loan
to the government upon condition that they re-
ceivo one dollar in gold and interest in gold till
the bond is redeemed, the same not to be taxed
But If the wife of rank and file should have a
COW or pig or two he is taxed; and if the gov
eminent should be owing him twelve months
pay, he receives no interest; but if the collector
OF taxes calls Tor the tax and finds no green.
backs, because rank and file has received no pay,)
SAID COW or pigs have to be sold for taxes. And
the New Englanders are not satisfied with sub.
leoting the uniform Of the United States to the
"Devil,' but since the war to the present date,
have been putting State after State into this
same Devils clutches the , Bs) until they are
literally torn to atoms-their rights, liberties
institutions and organizations; the same also of
the constitution. Who pays the heaviest amount
OF tax! Rank aud lille, proportionately. Then
Is 1t not plainly to be seen to be their pecuniary
interest to continue in power under ali cirsum-
stances I But the poor, manned soldier and
sailor, the orphan and the widow have to take
80 cts. for dollar and pay taxes, while the man
utacturer gets bond for gold dollar for 30 cts.
worth of manufactured goods
Seymour's Plotto,m.
Grants Platform. Government bonds 10
Government bonds to pay taxes same rs other
pay no tax, to draw in moneys and property;
tercst in gold; bonds to interest on same to be
DO paid for in gold, dol paid by legal tender;
lar for dollar. 7o, bonds to be redeemed
by U. S. currency.
P,S. / understood government inspector
would have spoken, but was gagged with green
backs. The 7"princcly" amount paid by the
manufacturers for the "speciar orders to col.
lect abandoned clothing during the war to tho
general in command will lie matter for future
reference: also a subject OH Wunrd-fankn ~