Punch: Punch (54.1868)

158

PUNCH, OP THE LONDON CHABIVABX. [April 11, 1868.

STUDY IN A HIGH WIND.

TO CHIEF RABBI ADLER.

Mr. Punch reads in that, excellent paper, the
Jewish Chronicle and Hebrew Observer, that at
Liverpool the new Hebrew congregation wants—

^IST ASSISTANT SHOCHET AND PORGER.

Mr. Punch has on hand an assortment of
young men of the Earl Russell type, prepared
at a moment’s notice to undertake anything,
from Taxidermy to seismography, and many of
them are pteridophilists, but none of them knows
what a shochet and porger is. Will the
admirable Chief Rabbi Adler clear our addled
wits ? And while about it, will he tell us
whether it is really true that many rich Jews
scarcely contribute to the fund of the Board of
Guardians of Hebrew Poor, an institution which
enables the Jews to avoid all the scandal which
we, and Ernest Hart, and Lord Devon, and
some others are trying to do away in the case of
the Christians ? Mr. Punch makes no apology
for interfering, everything is his province, as it
was Bacon’s (with apology for mentioning such
a name) and he is particularly anxious for
answers to both questions.

American Riddle.

Why have the United States Congress im-
peached President Johnson?

Perhaps because they think of making him
President again, and don’t want to elect an
untried man.

PUNCH’S ESSENCE OE PARLIAMENT.

Monday, March 30. Mr. Punch cites, with pleasure, a charming
passage from the Premier’s brilliant novel, the Young Duke:—

“Ah, that terrible House of Lords,” said May Dacre. “ Scarcely torty-eis-ht
hours arid all will be over, and we [Catholics] shall i>e just where we were. You
and your friends manage very badly in your House,” she said, addressing herself to
the Duke.

“ I do all I can,” said his Grace, smiling ; “ Burlington has my prosy.”

“ That is exactly what I complain of. On such an occasion there should be no
proxies. Personal attendance would imply a keener interest in the result. Ah, if
I were Duke of 8t. James for one night! ”

Ah, if you womld be Duchess of St. James ! ” thought the Duke, but a despairing
lover has no heart for jokes.

His Grace did better than joke. He hurried off to London, got into
the House of Lords iu time, delivered a fresh and effective speech for
Catholic Emancipation, hastened back to overhear the lovely May
Hacre delighiedly reading it to her father, and the next time the Duke
and May- But get the book : it is full of dash, wit, and “ go.”

Why Mr. Punch quoted it is that dear May Dacre’s reform has come
about, and that early in the week the Privy Seal to the author of tbe
Young Duke carried a standing order which practically does away with
proxies.

The Commander-in-Chief did not see his way to opposing the
Mutiny Bill as altered to prevent Flogging, but his Royal Highness
hoped that consideration would be given to the question of military
punishment. It was necessary, we suppose, that some such speech
should be made; but Mr. Punch, who is not good at seeing red-tape
difficulties, cannot perceive reason why the Duke, and General
Forster, and the Horse-Guards should be in any fix. Surely, m
peace time, there are fifty practicable punishments, exclusive of a cruel
one, and in war time nobody proposes to take away any power neces-
sary to a General

“ For Britons rarely swerve

From discipline, however stem, that serves their force to nerve.”

Childe Harold.

Merely mentioning that on Wednesday the Chancellor of the
Exchequer has brought in the Bill enabling Government to Acquire
the Telegraphs, Mr. Hunch proceeds to the Great Irish Church Debate,
which occupied the Four Nights.

Monday. Before the play, a farce. Certain Tories demanded the
eeading of partof the Act of Union with Ireland, and the Coronation Oath.
The gentlemen meant that Mr. Gladstone was about to ask Par-
liament to violate law, and the Queen to commit perjury. The farce
was not very well received by the audience.

Mr. Gladstone moved his Anti-Irish Church Resolutions. He
spoke very moderately, declared his own consistency, urged that, the
time had come, and dwelt tenderly with tbe rights, real or possible, of I
all persons in any way interested in the Church. Let us build up |

with the Cement of Human Concord the noble fabric of the British
Empire.

Lord Stanley moved his Amendment, that modifications in the
Temporalities might be expedient, alter the pending inquiry, but any
proposition for Disendowment should be left to a new House. He said
all that a clear-sighted man, with a future, could say in favour of an
obstructive device.

Mr. E. A. Leatham. This Parliament, being without passion,
ought to deal with tbe question.

Mr. O’Neill. It has no right to do so. And the Church increases
in efficacy.

Mr. Pollard Urquhart. Parsons have increased, not docks.

Mr. Baillie Cochrane. A party effort to turn out Ministers.

Mr. Moncbieff. Nobody dares to defend the Irish Church. It is
an alien ascendency that can effect no religious good.

Lord Cranborne. Lord Stanley’s speech was nothing but
petty cavils and poor excuses for delay. I will have nothing to do
with his Amendment. But you are going to draw down the certain
and bitter enmity of a third of Ireland. Mr. Disraeli is a weather-
cock. Of course, on religious grounds, I oppose tbe destruction of a
hallowed institution.

Mr. Laing. I object to party moves, but cannot sacrifice Ireland
to a Ministry.

The Solicitor-General. There ought to be no hurry. What is
proposed is Confiscation.

The Late Attorney-General for Ireland. Government had
no policy, except delay. The vigour and vitality of Protestantism
would be incalculably benefited by Disendowment.

Tuesday. Mr. Hardy, the Home Secretary, in a vigorous speech,
personally attacked Mr. Gladstone for sudden conversion, and
banded him a letter to prove it. Violation of the Union, injustice to
Protestants, precedent for spoliation of other property. He ably
represented his Oxford constituents, and even won Mr. Bright s
praise for his manly, Yorkshire championship of a bad cause.

Mr. Goschen. Parliament had a right to deal with the rights it had
given. _

Mr. Peel Dawson. The real object was to set up a Popish
Church. *

Mr. Torrens. Rise above party, and yon will find Ireland easily
governed.

Sir Hervey Bruce. What do the Catholic Members say about the
oath they took ?

Mr. Carter. Coventry wishes to see a Dis-endowment.

Serjeant Armstrong. The Church is hated as a symbol of op
pression.

Colonel S. Knox. Mr. Gladstone was cowardly. The Crown was
i linked with the Church.