The services of King Edward as a promoter of the _Entente_ with France date back to the same year, in which as Prince of Wales he is represented in a _Pas de Trois_ with the Republic and Marshal MacMahon. _Punch_ applauded the visit, but rebuked the flunkeyism of the accounts given by the Paris correspondent of _The Times_. For the moment Germany's home rather than her foreign policy engrossed attention, for this was the time of the _Kulturkampf_ and the campaign against Socialism. Bismarck is shown in one cartoon squeezing down the Socialist Jack-in-the-Box. These repressive measures were deprecated by _Punch_, and a few months later he commented ironically on Bismarck's _rapprochement_ with the Papacy, the cartoon "Of one mind (for once!)" showing Bismarck and the Pope barring the door against Socialism and Democracy. The reminiscences of the notorious Dr. Busch had appeared, and _Punch_ based on them a bitter set of verses, "The Pious Chancellor's Creed," adapted from one of Lowell's _Biglow Papers_:-- I do believe in subtle skill Disguised as brutal frankness; And the display of ruthless will In rowdy _Reiter_-rankness. As well shirk shedding blood for fear Of staining God's pure daisies, As strive to rule this lower sphere By sentimental phrases. I hold the great Germanic race Is Heaven's favourite bantling, Supreme in virile power and grace And breadth of moral scantling. The Franks are hounds, their women pigs Gr-r-r! I the vain vile vermin hate! I'd squelch them--but for pap-soul'd prigs Who funk the word exterminate. Bismarck was alive and formidable. Thiers and Pio Nono passed away in 1877 and 1878. The services of the French Statesman are tersely summed up in the stanza:-- Monarchy loving much, he loved yet more The realm, whoe'er its badge of headship wore; And, waiving self, was willing to abide That rule which Frenchmen would the least divide. In the accompanying cartoon France is seen laying a wreath on the tomb inscribed "_Libérateur de la Patrie, 1872_," while the shades of monarchists and Communards are seen in the background. The tribute to Pius IX is kindly but not uncritical. He had outlived the patriotic Liberalism of his younger self:-- Happy that one thing he did _not_ outlive, The charitable soul, the kindly heart, That rigid dogma's slaves could scarce forgive, Fearing lest he might play them Balaam's part, And bless whom he should curse; and so they drew Their bonds about him closer day by day Living or dying, till no will he knew But theirs, and as they pointed, marked the way. In Home Politics Ireland largely dominated the scene during the latter half of the Beaconsfield administration. As early as 1876 _Punch_ had dealt faithfully with the plea advanced on behalf of political prisoners in the following caustic argument:--