HAS Repeal, that in 'Forty was folly,
Grown sense in Eighteen-seventy-two?
Will the walls that defied Big DAN'S volley,
Be by BUTT'S brass two-pounder split through?
Has PADDY, that still has craved ruling
And rulers, in wrong as in right,
Of a sudden out-grown schools and schooling,
And shot to Self-Government's height?
And was it but bottomless boasting,
With a point from Hibernian wit,--
That there ne'er yet was Irishman roasting,
But an Irishman's hand turned the spit?
Is it JOHN that across the Atlantic
Stamps PAT Order's foe ever known;
And declares him a nuisance gigantic,
Till Yankee Home-Rule ousts his own?
Must hist'ry, as writ all untruly,
Like Hebrew, be read in reverse,
That, since STRONG-BOW, shows Ireland unruly,
With lawlessness cursed as chief curse?
When the best of the race for home-ruling
Are those that Home-Rule most distrust;
As convinced that to trust Irish "tooling,"
Will bring Erin's car in the dust.
Home-Rule! 'Tis a compound sonorous,
Fine phrase on a green flag to fly;
But take stock of the stuff that's before us--
And who shall the Home-Rule supply?
Is't your own Irish Lords, Irish Commons,
Who adorned College Green long ago?
But to London would rather hear summons,
Than in Dublin be tied by the toe:
For the Greenest of all, the best brother
Of PAT in JOHN BULL can discern;
And to cool English air from the smother
Of your factions, is thankful to turn.
Is't the Lawyers, who look for preferment,
Praise, pence, and distinction, o'er sea;
And when they have ris'n by your ferment,
Will be glad your close corking to see?
Is't your National Papers--press-razors,
Produced not to shave, but to sell--
Whose scribes might seem genuine blazers,
Did not conjurors spit fire as well?
Is't your Priests, with the gag and the blinders,
Which Church would fain use to tame Law:
Their pincers, for law-reason's grinders,
Their scissors, for lay-reason's claw?
Is't your Peasants, in feuds and in factions
Stark mad, for a nothing or name:
In their lodges, at murder's black pactions,
Or from a dyke-back taking aim?
In short, gauging all ranks and classes--
Those who are, or will be, by the ears--
The units, as well as the masses,
Lawyers, traders, priests, press, peasants, peers--
All ages, from seventy to twenty,
All shades, from deep knave to born fool--
I find means of "Home MIS-rule" in plenty,
But where are the means of "Home _Rule_"?
* * * * *
=A Coming Retirement.=
_The Speaker's Commentary_ is already favourably
known. We anticipate a very favourable commentary
on the SPEAKER, when Parliament re-assembles.
* * * * *
"DONNE'S SATIRES."--Pantomimes without political
jokes.
* * * * *