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Title: Notes [Jun, 1887] Author: Freedom Press (London) Date: June, 1887 Language: en Source: Freedom: A Journal of Anarchist Socialism, Vol. 1, No. 9, online source http://www.revoltlib.com/?id=3068, retrieved on April 14, 2020.
Fifty years more of dust-licking before an out-worn, meaningless
superstition, and we are to make our continued want of energy and common
sense an occasion of national rejoicing! National self-abasement for our
folly would be more to the point.
What possible meaning has all this cant about loyalty to the poor old
German, who for fifty years has allowed herself to wear the cap and
bells as Queen of England? Truly our civilization, from the British
Constitution to the women's dress improvers, has grown into such
monstrous shapes that it is hard to discover its relation to the reason
of mankind.
When the sovereign of England was a great military leader, like the
First and Third Edwards, or the center of a national idea like
Elizabeth, there was some meaning, though there might be little wisdom,
in talking of loyalty. But Victoria is simply the most scandalous
sinecurist in the land, and yet the workers are badgered or wheedled out
of their pence by primrose dames and the like empty headed
sentimentalists, to show their loyalty by making her a further present
of money. For 68 years they have supported her in luxury, what has she
done for them in return?
Before another fifty years are over and gone the workers of the whole
civilized world will be asking some such question in right good earnest;
asking it with a determination to get an answer that will set it at rest
for ever; asking it not of kings and queens alone, but of ruling men and
ruling classes of every sort and condition.
In the little divertissement in Irish affairs lately caused by the
Times, the Irish actors in the comedy at St. Stephens would have played
a better part if they had allowed the mud thrown at them to dry and drop
off, and a better part still if they had boldly avowed their willingness
to be associated in name with the extremists of their party.
If but for one thing, the present system of legislation should be
condemned to die the death, and that is for the way in which it makes
rogues of those who might be honest men enough. Among the so-called
representatives of the people, who is there who is not eating his own
words, or stifling the feeble aspirations after freedom and justice of
which he was delivered on election platforms?
What an awkward position that was at St. Austell for a sometime "friend
of the poor and champion of economy," to be publicly confronted by the
question," Is it true that you refused to accept the office of Secretary
to the Local Board until the salary had been raised from £1,200 to
£1,500?"
The question remained unanswered; and yet it seems the extra £300 had
been demanded only because it was feared the lesser sum would be
regarded by the agricultural laborers as a slight put upon their special
representative! This delicacy of feeling has no doubt been much
appreciated. It is possible, however, that the agricultural and all
other tax-burdened laborers, may come to contemplate the cropping of
their tribunes' salaries with a philosophic calm.