The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-10-25
FREE TRADE
Court-1aartialed and Ordered TO be Shot
BY Z. s. HEATH, s4TH \. y, MELBOURNE, AUS
TRAIIA.


BY z. 6. HEATH, s4TH \. Y, MELBOURNE, Aus
ITALIA
Haiti Who goes there2"
Free Trade, with the countersign."
Advance, Free Trade, and give the counter
sign"
he advances Ruin to Labor and Industry"
You cannot pass. / am posted here to pro-
tect my comrale mechanics and laborers, and
no enemy shall be allowed to cross my beat. If
] am killed, my ghost viii frighten them
away"
Corporal Of the Guard. Post No. I. Corporal
enters. Here's an enemy trying to enter our
peaceful and prosperous camp as friend"
Corporal" What are you proWIing around
here for? DO You not know you are liable TO
be killed on sight?"
Free Trade-"I came, sir, from 8 foreign
land, where people work hard for almost moth
ing aud for this reason can sell you goods and
wares cheaper than you can make them your
selves, and they can live cheaper aud better
than you DO Carpets, pianos, w0olen clothing
and blankets we can sell you for one-half what
they cost you now. This Is giving the poor
mechanic chance to enjoy the blessings of
cheap labor
Corporal" You cannot pass. Your story is
guise to easnare US. IF you tell the truth.
why do not your Own mechanics enjoy all
these comforts2 Why are they SO much poorer
than ours2 Why do they not have carpets,
pianos and such laxuries2"
Wei, OF course, they do not get so much
wages as y0u do; therefore they do not have
the money 70 spend for laX1ries as il takes all
they make 10 live
Well y0u cannot pass here; and I arrest
yeu, and you m1st 60 with me to headquar-
ters"
Officer Of the Picket to Brigadier- General
Here's an Ont-and-out enemy, who was arrest
ed while trying to pass through our lines near
Mechanicsvilie. lie represents himself to be
Free Trade, and claims 70 be our best friend
Ny opinion Is tiat be should be cO1rt-martIaled
and have fair trial, and II he presents salts
factory proofs that he is friend he should be
protected; but if he shows himself an enemy
he ought % be shot"
General-"I qaite agree with you, Capt
HorEhard. ] viii order q c0uTt-martiai at
once The prisoner must be carefully guarded
until tomorrow at o'clock, when lie viii be
brought before the court"
Shortly after o'clock on the following day
there Is heard q clanking of swords and rafting
OF spurs AZ headquarters as the officers arrive
at the Generals tent, which has been trans
formed iHt0 q courtroom. There are the heavy
artillery .iroH-f0unders and stone -mas0ns}: the
light batteries gsh0enakers, carpenters. etc.
the engineers tmachinists, rail-nakers and
puddlcIsi the pioneers wool -gr0Wers); the
signal corps .cl0thiers): the scouts commercial
traTelersJ, ard sappers and miners farmers
al gathered 70 hear tie testimony and learn
the fate Of The prisoner.
The hour having arrived. and everything
being IN readiness. the court opens in the usual
manner, after which the prosecution conducts
q examination as follows:
+" What is your nane?"
" Free Trade"
"Whcre Do you come fromf"
Europe"
What is your rauk2"
" Poverty" Applause among friends Of the
prosecutioa.l
Why were you trying to pass cur lines.
aud fog what purpose did you attempt TO enter
Dur campy
% ] was paid large amount Of money bv the
manufacturers q my country, and instructed
70 pass through your lines as q friend. and If
allowed 70 pass. 70 use all means and influences
that could bring TO get the people to accept
1ree trade"
DO y9a believe yourself that free trade is
better Fog the laborcr than protection ="
Yes"
Why do you think so2'
Because they can bug their clothing. blan-
kets. carpets, etc, much cheaper"
DO the lal9riHE classes in Europe own their
homes and are they as general rule, better
furnished. and their children better clothed
FED and educated than ours2"
no; thcE are not nearly so well of"
We'll. ST., your evidence is very conflicting
Your statements do not agree. Now. if free
trade is 50 good for England, why is it that
Australia, New Zealand. Canada, and nearly
every one q The British Colonies have such a
strong protective tariff"
don't know"
You have come here with v0ur bars of
British money aud your thin arguments to try
to get our people 10 accept free trade. So that
you can send Australian wool here free But
If we scuc shears for shcariug the Australian
sheep, VIC have to pay 271 per cent. duty On
them. why is this?"
81 don't know"
Well ] should say you do not. Neither
does anyone else. Genounce you rs a traitor .
To the Court" This man Is q traitor. and
should not be allowed IN this country. much
less IN our camp. lie is trying TO destroy the
prosperity of our laboring people or delnding
them. lie has lied 10 us, as his testimony
VIII show lie Is trying TO rob our country of
ITS revenue, 50 That We viii not be able 20 nay
the widows and orphans Of our dead comrades
the money promised them in 1861 if they would
only leave their homes and help preserve the
c0untTy's honor. In fact, he Is trying 10 steal
the sweet sweat Of industry from the brows of
our mechanics. lie tells you that free trade i
best for our Nation, yet he cannot name sin
gle country having free trade where the me-
chanlcs and other labsrers are SO well OF or
have the home comforts that ours have. He
wants 70 send Us goods made by paupers free
OF duty. And if we send spoons for those
pRupers to take medicine from lge have 10 nav
big duty on them. ] say that he is an itn-
poster, and ought to be shot"
The Judge The members Of this court find
you guilty in accordance with the testimony
And the sentence Of the court is that you be
taken out Cd the 9th Of November next ard
shot dead and may God have mercy Oh yoar
SOUL