Guilford L. (Guilford Lindsey) Molesworth
The British Jugernath: Free trade! Fair trade!! Reciprocity!!! Retaliation!!!!
"The British Jugernath: Free trade! Fair trade!! Reciprocity!!! Retaliation!!!!" by G. L. M. is a critical discourse on economic theories and policies, published during the late 19th century. This work serves as a polemic against the concept of free trade, personified as the titular Jugernath, which the author argues has led to the suffering of the British economy, particularly its agricultural and manufacturing sectors. Through pointed rhetoric and a sardonic tone, the book explores themes of economic disparity and the failures of free trade principles. At the start of the book, the author introduces the notion of Jugernath as a monstrous force that both blinds and harms society, highlighting the irony of British superiority while ignoring the destructive aspects of their economic policies. The opening chapters castigate the self-satisfaction of free trade proponents, illustrating the disparity between the promised benefits of free trade and the harsh realities of unemployment and declining local industries. G. L. M. positions free trade advocates as misguided, neglecting the evidence of its detrimental impact on British workers, particularly in agriculture and manufacturing, setting the stage for a detailed critique of economic theory and its practical implications.