“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:—
“THE ELECTION.
“A POEM IN SEVEN BOOKS.
“Cox represented Aleborough, patriot pure,
On whose tried firmness Europe leant secure,
But, woe to manufactures, land, and stocks!
Europe and Aleborough could not rescue Cox.
At London’s Mansion House, the Poultry’s pride,
Cox in his country’s service din’d and died.
A new election! Glory to the town!
For all there’s profit, and for some renown.
‘The Lion’ opes his hungry jaws, and springs;
And ‘The Black Bear’ seems dancing as he swings.
Before an hour the Patriot Blues are met;
Though Cox is gone, the Cause shall triumph yet,
The sacred cause of right; till it prevails,
The Universe hangs trembling in the scales.
‘The Lion’ for the Blues! our flag’s unfurled,
And Mogg, instead of Cox, shall awe the world.
The big placard, with thunder in its look,
Glares like a page from Destiny’s own book;
The drums and trumpets hired augment their zeal
By strong potations till inspired they reel;
The chaises three, and omnibus immense,
Display ‘the Lion’s’ whole munificence;
And Mogg’s committee-men, a Spartan few,
To save the sinking State would die True Blue.
There Small, who plied dear Mistress Mogg with pills,
Prescribed her husband for a nations’ ills.
But chief of all amid that Senate wise,
Attorney Whisk had heard his country’s cries.“
Meanwhile the “Red” candidate, Frank Vane, has providentially “dropped down from the skies,” primarily for the benefit of the rival attorney Spark:—