“ELECTION DAY-A SKETCH FROM NATURE.
“THE HUSTINGS.
“Now, hail ye, groans, huzzas, and cheers,
So grateful to electors’ ears,
Where all is riot and confusion,
Fraud, friendship, scandal, and delusion;
Now houses stormed, and windows broken,
Serve as a pastime and a token
That patriots spare not, in their zeal,
Such measures for their country’s weal.
Now greeting, hooting, and abuse,
To each man’s party prove of use;
And mud, and stones, and waving hats,
And broken heads, and putrid cats,
Are offerings made to aid the cause
Of order, government, and laws.
Now lampoons, idle tales, and jokes,
And placards overreach and hoax;
While blustering, bullying, and brow-beating,
A little pommeling, and maltreating,
And elbowing, jostling, and cajoling,
And all the jockeyship of polling,
And deep manœuvre and duplicity,
Prove all elections fair and free;
While Scandalum Magnatum’s puzzled,
And lawless libel raves unmuzzled.”
“THE CHAIRING.
“And now the members, by freeholders,
Are mounted on the rabble’s shoulders,
To typify, that willing backs
Are made for any sort of Tax,
And kindly sent, prepared by fate,
To bear the burthens of the State.
But that elections to the mob
Might prove a right good merry job,
Down from the waving laurel bower
Descends the glittering silver shower,
And, thus, with open-handed fee,
Meant as a check to bribery,
Each new-made Senator is willing,
By many a sixpence and a shilling,
To compromise for thumps and bruises,
For broken heads and bloody noses;
For damage done by sticks and stones,
For pockets picked, and broken bones.”
One of the best pictures of a country election is due to the muse of John Sterling; a few stanzas will not be found out of place:—