St. Peter's and St. James's face to face Exchanging with a more than courtly grace Their mutual gifts and greetings! A sight to stir the bigot; but the wise Regard with cheerful and complacent eyes This pleasantest of meetings. And so on with praise of the Good Queen and Holy Father, _Punch_, as a "true freeman unfettered by servile fear or hate's poor purblind heat," being free to celebrate them both. It was also the Centenary year of the United States, welcomed by _Punch_ in John Bull's song on Miss Columbia's Hundredth birthday to the air of "I'm getting a big boy now." Mr. Gladstone was invited to the celebrations but did not cross the Atlantic. John Bull abounds in professions of good-will, but there is a slight sting in the last chorus:-- You are getting a great girl now, May you prosper, and keep out of row; Shun Bunkum and bawl All that's shoddy and small, For you're getting a _great_ girl now. [Illustration: THE CHALLENGE] The Salisbury Cabinet was strengthened by the inclusion of Mr. Goschen as Chancellor of the Exchequer--Mr. Goschen whom Lord Randolph "forgot," and whom _Punch_ styled the "Emergency man," a phrase now also forgotten, but then applied to the volunteers who assisted boycotted farmers and loyalists in Ireland. Mr. Balfour was at the Irish Office, the scene of his greatest administrative successes, and the Crimes Act and the Land Act were the two principal measures of the Session. In those days _The Times_ was the great champion of the Unionist policy, and in the summer of 1887 is shown prodding on Lord Salisbury and Mr. Balfour, armed with Crimes Act blunderbusses, in their attack on the Land League wild boar. The Land League was "proclaimed" in August; and already the controversy had begun between Mr. Parnell and _The Times_ over the former's alleged participation in the responsibility for the Phoenix Park murders. The question was raised in a series of articles on "Parnellism and Crime"; but the charges were not made specific until the following year. John Bright's secession from the Gladstonian Liberals had been a serious blow, and his contributions to the Unionist armoury were so vigorous and pointed, that it is rather strange to find _Punch_ assailing him in March, 1887, for his pacificist tendencies:-- The white flag, John, _may_ bid all battle cease, Not the white feather! In defence of right, Despite your dogmas, men perforce must fight With swords as well as words: be it their care With either, to heed honour, and fight fair. You would "speak daggers" only; be it so; But a word-stab may be a felon blow. John Bright certainly spoke daggers against those who, in his own phrase, kept the rebellion pot always on the boil. [Sidenote: _Germany's Momentous Year_]