DOI issue:
April 21, 1866
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16877#0179
AN ILL-TIMED JEST.
“ Why, Uncle, you Bragged you could take two Bottles last Night, and a little 1 Drop like this Floors you in the Morning!”
SOME THINGS MR. PUNCH THINKS ABOUT A
CERTAIN BILL.
That a great deal of humbug is talked about Reform.
That this humbug isn’t confined to either side of the question.
That they who say the country is enthusiastic about the Franchise
Bill, talk palpable “bosh.”
That those who say the Franchise Bill is revolutionary, talk “ bosh”
j just as palpable.
That England never can be a democratic country.
That those who are afraid of leavening our aristocratic institutions
with more equalising influences, are the legitimate successors of Mbs.
Partington.
That the social effects of railways, telegraphs, penny papers, co-
operative societies, woiking-men’s clubs, and industrial exhibitions
must have their reflection and complement in political changes also.
That ihe only poliiical change really to be feared is one that should
secure the predominance of any one class in the Legislature.
That in weighing the mischief of such predominance, it matters little
what the dominant class may be.
That just now the only legislation about which the working classes
much concern themselves, is legislation affecting the relations of capital
and labour.
That on this subject the notions of the working men, so far as they
have a class colouring at all, are nearer those of the old “ Cannon Ball”
Tories than any other party in Parliament.
That the material prosperity of England depends mainly on her manu-
factures, trade and commerce.
That the prosperity of manufactures, trade, and commerce depends
mainly on sound political economy.
That the only well grounded fear of working-class influence in Parlia-
ment arises from their unsound political economy.
That the first party to go to the wall, under that influence, would be
the great capitalist employers of labour.
That though Punch may believe the working-man’s political economy
to be unsound, he would like to see it fairly represented, discussed, and
fought out in Parliament.
That for this purpose Mr. Punch would hail organs of the working
men in Parliament.
That, for the same reason, Mr. Punch would not, by any means, hail
a majority of such organs.
That, till Mr. Punch knows how seats are to be distributed, he can’t
imagine how many of such organs are likely to be returned to Par-
liament.
That, therefore, if, happily for his country, Mr. Punch were in Par-
liament, he would certainly vote against the Second Reading of any
Franchise Bill, unless he first knew how Members were to be assigned
among the constituencies it enlarged.
That Mr. Punch feels this point to be vital.
A MODEL MERCHANT.
Quoth the American Minister, the other evening, at the Mansion
House:—
“ Mr. George Peabody is a singular man. He is a man of remarkable character,
being, I might almost say, a species by himself.'1
Singular man! Yes, verily, there is but one George Peabody, and
thousands by him profit. We should like to see this singular made
plural, we confess. The Peabody species is one well worthy of develop-
ment; and come, there is no harm in hinting how we might extend ik
Imitation is allowed to be the truest form of flattery. Perhaps a few of
our rich merchants will imitate George Peabody F Why should they
not take a leaf out of his book, and one out of their own cheque-books F
By his generous gift to London he rescues nigh a thousand Londoners
from wretchedness and dirt. Why should not half a score or so of our
great merchant princes resolve to do the like? Thanks to railways,
and embankments, and valley elevations, a number of poor Londoners
are turned daily out of doors, and knownot where to find clean lodging.
Don’t be backward, kind rich gentlemen, in housing the poor houseless.
Who will first step forward and “ say ditto ” to George Peabody ?
Who were the original bogtrotters ? The Asians.
“ Why, Uncle, you Bragged you could take two Bottles last Night, and a little 1 Drop like this Floors you in the Morning!”
SOME THINGS MR. PUNCH THINKS ABOUT A
CERTAIN BILL.
That a great deal of humbug is talked about Reform.
That this humbug isn’t confined to either side of the question.
That they who say the country is enthusiastic about the Franchise
Bill, talk palpable “bosh.”
That those who say the Franchise Bill is revolutionary, talk “ bosh”
j just as palpable.
That England never can be a democratic country.
That those who are afraid of leavening our aristocratic institutions
with more equalising influences, are the legitimate successors of Mbs.
Partington.
That the social effects of railways, telegraphs, penny papers, co-
operative societies, woiking-men’s clubs, and industrial exhibitions
must have their reflection and complement in political changes also.
That ihe only poliiical change really to be feared is one that should
secure the predominance of any one class in the Legislature.
That in weighing the mischief of such predominance, it matters little
what the dominant class may be.
That just now the only legislation about which the working classes
much concern themselves, is legislation affecting the relations of capital
and labour.
That on this subject the notions of the working men, so far as they
have a class colouring at all, are nearer those of the old “ Cannon Ball”
Tories than any other party in Parliament.
That the material prosperity of England depends mainly on her manu-
factures, trade and commerce.
That the prosperity of manufactures, trade, and commerce depends
mainly on sound political economy.
That the only well grounded fear of working-class influence in Parlia-
ment arises from their unsound political economy.
That the first party to go to the wall, under that influence, would be
the great capitalist employers of labour.
That though Punch may believe the working-man’s political economy
to be unsound, he would like to see it fairly represented, discussed, and
fought out in Parliament.
That for this purpose Mr. Punch would hail organs of the working
men in Parliament.
That, for the same reason, Mr. Punch would not, by any means, hail
a majority of such organs.
That, till Mr. Punch knows how seats are to be distributed, he can’t
imagine how many of such organs are likely to be returned to Par-
liament.
That, therefore, if, happily for his country, Mr. Punch were in Par-
liament, he would certainly vote against the Second Reading of any
Franchise Bill, unless he first knew how Members were to be assigned
among the constituencies it enlarged.
That Mr. Punch feels this point to be vital.
A MODEL MERCHANT.
Quoth the American Minister, the other evening, at the Mansion
House:—
“ Mr. George Peabody is a singular man. He is a man of remarkable character,
being, I might almost say, a species by himself.'1
Singular man! Yes, verily, there is but one George Peabody, and
thousands by him profit. We should like to see this singular made
plural, we confess. The Peabody species is one well worthy of develop-
ment; and come, there is no harm in hinting how we might extend ik
Imitation is allowed to be the truest form of flattery. Perhaps a few of
our rich merchants will imitate George Peabody F Why should they
not take a leaf out of his book, and one out of their own cheque-books F
By his generous gift to London he rescues nigh a thousand Londoners
from wretchedness and dirt. Why should not half a score or so of our
great merchant princes resolve to do the like? Thanks to railways,
and embankments, and valley elevations, a number of poor Londoners
are turned daily out of doors, and knownot where to find clean lodging.
Don’t be backward, kind rich gentlemen, in housing the poor houseless.
Who will first step forward and “ say ditto ” to George Peabody ?
Who were the original bogtrotters ? The Asians.