Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 1, CompleteVarious
General
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 1, Complete
Various
English wit and humor -- Periodicals
Can it be supposed that the loss of office, that the ten years hunger
for the loaves and fishes endured by the Tory party, has disciplined
them into a wiser humanity? Can it be believed that they have arrived at
a more comprehensive grasp of intellectthat they are ennobled by a
loftier consideration of the social rights of manthat they are gifted
with a more stirring sympathy for the wants that, in the present
iniquitous system of society, reduce him to little less than pining
idiotcy, or madden him to what the statutes call crime, and what judges,
sleek as their ermine, preach upon as rebellion to the governmentthe
government that, in fact, having stung starvation into treason, takes to
itself the loftiest praise for refusing the hangmana taskfor appeasing
Justice with simple transportation?
Already the Tories have declared themselves. In the flush of anticipated
success, PEEL at the Tamworth election denounced the French Revolution
that escorted Charles the Tenthwith his foolish head still upon his
shouldersout of France, as the triumph of might over right. It was
the rightthe divine right of Charles(the sacred ampoule, yet dropping
with the heavenly oil brought by the mystic dove for Clovis, had
bestowed the privilege)to gag the mouth of man; to scourge a nation
with decrees, begot by bigot tyranny upon follyto reduce a people into
uncomplaining slavery. Such was his right: and the burst of indignation,
the irresistible assertion of the native dignity of man, that shivered
the throne of Charles like glass, was a felonious mighta rebellious,
treasonous potencythe very wickedness of strength. Such is the opinion
of Conservative PEEL! Such the old Tory faith of the child of Toryism!
Since the Tamworth speechsince the scourging of Sir ROBERT by the
French pressPEEL has essayed a small philanthropic oration. He has
endeavoured to paintand certainly in the most delicate water-
coloursthe horrors of war. The premier makes his speech to the nations
with the palm-branch in his handwith the olive around his brow. He has
applied arithmetic to war, and finds it expensive. He would therefore
induce France to disarm, that by reductions at home he may not be
compelled to risk what would certainly jerk him out of the
premiershipthe imposition of new taxes. He may then keep his Corn
Lawshe may then securely enjoy his sliding scale. Such are the hopes
that dictate the intimation to disarm. It is sweet to prevent war; and,
oh! far sweeter still to keep out the Wigs!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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