The National tribune., 1889-10-03
RAp BEYOND DEGREE.


Free-Trade gang is as villainous in spirit and
method as the conspiracy of the leaders of
the rebellion to break up the country.
In fact, precisely the same men or their
successors are actively pushing it. The Brit
ish portion of the fomeutors of the rebellion
gave it pecuniary aid and moral support in
the expectation that its success would pros
trate our manufactures and make the Free
Trade South permanent customer for Brit
ish goods.
Having failed to destroy us by rebellion,
the same element, with the same nefarious
designs against our commercial prosperity,
is trying this scheme. 1t is sending into
this country immense sums of money to
subsidize those papers which are purchas-
able and to snow the land with "leaflets"
to denounce the men who crushed the rebel
lion as the scum of the earth-mainly hire
lings, towards, shirzs, bounty-jumpers, and
the like. They do this
l. Because of their sincere dislike to the
soldiers as class, on account of their sue
cessful foiling of their designs; and
2 Because the use of the revenue derived
from customs for the payment of pensions is
great obstacle in the way of reducing the
duties to the point of practical free trade.
The whole campaign is a flagrantly I'M
patriotic assault, in the interests of foreign
capitalists and manufacturers, upon the best
interests of the country. Its success means
not only robbing the soldiers of the Republic
of their blood-bought rights, but the absolute
ruin of every manufacturing and commercial
enterprise, and the Impeachment of mil
lions of our people. Its success would stop
every wheel in every factory, take work and
wages away from every operative, the bread
from the mouths of his family.
The attack on the veterans is flank move
ment in the great battle against American
industries. Great Britain has frequently
fought bloody wars, at enormous expendi-
ture of blood and treasure, to secure markets
! possession of the American market becomes
Of vastly more consequence to her now than
ever, since she is being shut out of Germany,
Austria, Italy, Russia, and other countries
| by their protective tariffs. She must make
an enormous effort 10 save her manufactures
/ from destruction.
The time is past when she can successfully
/ fight for a market, except in such imper-
fectly civilized countries as China, Egypt,
India, Africa, Turkey, etc. She must hope
10 gain her ends by intrigue and corrup-
ton. She cannot expect 10 gain any thing
in Germany, Austria, Italy, Russia, etc,
because centuries OF wretched experience
have taught them only TOO well the weak
ness and misery which results from playing
the English game of Free Trade. They
have too recently escaped from the evils
which following her policy inflicted to have
any wish to return TO it.
Her main hopes are now centered in the
United States She has before, with the
aid Of the politicians of the South, induced
us to break down our factories for her bene-
fit, and she believes it possible to do it again,
She can count on the alliance of the same
men who were SO useful TO her 50 years
ago, and whom she helped so much in after
years. English money has been sent, and is
being sent here without stint, for use in in
fluencing public opinion against the veter-
ans and the tariff system. Every day in the
week some venomous assault against these
can be directly traced to its potent stimulus
Writers are hired by it, speakers salaried
newspapers bribed, and printing presses sci
10 work 10 beioul the veterans, and preju.
dice the people against them personally and
as a class, that they may be refused well.
earned justice, and the money which be
longs 10 them be withheld from them, in
order that the system Of protection 10 Ameri
can industries be broken down.
The veterans have been the objects o
many inconceivably mean assaults, but they
have had to encounter nothing more in
tensely mean and malignant than this attack
organized in the selfish interests of British
Free Trade, where English money is bein|
unsparingly used TO bring all their enemie
into line and animate their hatred.
LetGte Ueterans' replybe a solid front Ggaina
any reduction in The revenues until the soldier
hare had their doy in court and such Legislation
giUen them as l0iH JtslGH the Nations saere
duty 10 them.
THE COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS.
Apparently no progress was made las
? week in deciding upon successor TO Com
| ,afcefoner rrannep II Ng.o u4atad 4ha4 A.