scottish political poetry, song and the franchise, 1832–1918 anthology · 2018-02-14 · scottish...

ScottishPoliticalPoetry,SongandtheFranchise,1832–1918

Anthology

Poemsselectedandannotatedby:

ProfessorKirstieBlair,UniversityofStrathclyde

ProfessorGerardCarruthers,UniversityofGlasgow

ErinFarley,UniversityofStrathclyde

DrCatrionaM.M.Macdonald,UniversityofGlasgow

DrHonorRieley,UniversityofGlasgow

DrMichaelShaw,UniversityofKent

Contents

PartOne:PoemsrelatingtotheRepresentationofthePeopleActs,18321. DarkBonnymuir 52. OurBraveSailorKing 73. MilesianMelody.—No.XII. 94. TheNewChevyChase. 115. CheSara,Sara 176. Thirty-Two 197. TheSpiritofToryism,AsDisplayedattheLateLiteraryDinnertotheEttrick

Shepherd22

8. TaskforAnti-Reformers 249. [UpJohnBullandclearyourbrows] 2510. TheFloggedSoldier 2711. ReformSong 2912. ACanvassingEpisode 3113. FablesfromAncientAuthors,orOldSawswithModernInstances 3214. [Thereweretimes,myLordJeffrey,betweenyouandme] 3515. TheWhigs’SupplicationtoApollo 3716. TotheBanffshireVoters 4017. ANewWhigGarland 4218. TheDevil’sWalk 4419. Reformers’ElectionSong

PartTwo:PoemsrelatingtotheRepresentationofthePeopleActs,1867-8

20. TheGlesca’Carter 5121. Reform 5322. OntheDeathofanOldReformer 5523. TheReformBill 5724. TheFranchiseO’Women–ASong 5825. Reform! 5926. ANon-Elector’sSoliloquy 6027. AVeteranTory’sLament 6128. TheBattleoftheKilmarnockBurghs

PartThree:PoemsrelatingtotheRepresentationofthePeopleAct,1884

29. GrannieBlack 6830. TheDeilandthePeers;or,TheBattleo’theFranchise 7031. [Hail,Liberalsoneandall] 7232. InvitationtotheBathgateDemonstration,October4,1884 7433. Reform:AWoman’sWork 7634. OntheFranchiseDemonstrationofthe6thInst.

ReplytoMarionBernsteinontheFranchiseDemonstrationofthe6thUlt.AnswertoM.A.Smith

35. ElectionSong 8336. TheSongoftheMillionaire

PartFour:PoemsrelatingtotheRepresentationofthePeopleAct,1918

37. Regrets 8838. Carson’sFarewelltoAberdeen 9039. [GreengrowtherashesO] 9240. TheSuffragette’sNutCracked 9341. TheGreatDemonstration 9542. ShakespeareUptoDate 9743. [NewingtonButtswerelively] 9944. FullTide 10045. WomenShallbeFree 10146. TheMonstrousRegimentofWomen 10347. ShouldWomenGettheVote? 104

PartOne:PoemsrelatingtotheRepresentationofthePeopleActs,1832

1. DarkBonnymuir.Thereformcampaignsofthelate1820sandearly1830swereprecededbytheRadicalWarof 1820, also known as the Scottish Insurrection. A week of strikes and agitation wasorganisedbetweenMarchandApril1820inordertodemandparliamentaryandindustrialreform.Famously,severalofthesereformersmarchedontheCarronironworksinFalkirktoarm themselves, but they were stopped at Bonnymuir, near Falkirk, where they werearrested. The leaders, John Baird and Andrew Hardie, were then executed in Stirling.Reformersofthe1830sfrequentlywroteofBairdandHardieasheroicmartyrsofthereformcause, which is reflected in this poem, ‘Dark Bonnymuir’. The poem was published as abroadside and is not dated, but it ismost likely from the early 1830s. In the first stanza,Caledonia–apersonificationoftheScottishnation–grievesforher'poorbleedingcountry',demandingthatit'hailreformation'.Baird,HardieandJamesWilson(anotherfigureexecutedforhisinvolvementintheRadicalWar)arementionedasthepoemcallsforthememoryoftheRadicalWaragitatorstobehonouredandtheirspiritcarriedforward intothepresentstruggle.

In1912thispoemwaspublishedinForward,aGlaswegiansocialistpapereditedbyTomJohnston,wholaterbecameaLabourMPin1922andSecretaryofStateforScotlandduringthesecondworldwar.Thepoemispublishedwithanintroductoryparagraphwhichtellsusthat Keir Hardie, the founder of the Independent Labour Party, recalled hearing this 'oldballad sung about the days of Baird and Hardie' in his childhood. Upon hearing this,MrLowdenMacartneyofthePoet'sBoxat203Overgate,Dundee,senttheballadtoForward.

MichaelShaw

Aseveningdashedonthewesternocean,Caledoniastoodperch'donthewavesoftheClyde,

Herarmswideextendedsheraisedwithdevotion—"Mypoorbleedingcountry!"shevehementlycried;

"Ariseupmycountryandhailreformation,"Ariseanddemandnowtherightsofournation,

Beholdyouroppressorsshallmeetthedesolation,"ThatmarkedthebravevictimsondarkBonnymuir.

Onthe5thdayofAprileighteenhundredandtwenty,ThegreatBairdandHardiedidmarchfromtheirhome,

Toguardtheirfreedom,home,rights,peaceandplenty,Buttyrannyconqueredandgavethematomb.

Liketraitorstheydiedonthe8thofSeptember,Inthecoldsilentgravetheywereconsignedtoslumber,

Butheavenwillavengethemlettyrantsremember,AndriseupnewheroesondarkBonnymuir.

Thoughfreedomhasbledonthefieldsorelywounded,Shalllibertyperishanddieinitsbloom?

Shalltyrannytriumph?thoughfreedomhasgroundedThearmsoftheheroesthatlieinthetomb.

Butfreedomshallrisetothegreatestperfection,Avengingherwrongswithhardwordsofcorrection,

Whenonmycountrywithfilialaffection,IsighforthemartyrsofdarkBonnymuir.

Howlongshalltyrantsusurpoverfreedom,Howlongshallwegroaninthosevileservilechains?

AriseupmychildrenandsinkthemlikeSodom!E'ersaddesolationreignsovertheplains.

Oh,museonthedaywhengreatWallacewasrearingThebroadswordofScotland,whentyrantswerefearing,

Atthesoundofthetrumpetwerethousandsappearing,TodieortoconquerondarkBonnymuir.

Thosedearsonsoffreedom,prosperityshallneverForgetBairdandHardie,whowouldthemdisown?

Inthebreastoftheircountrytheirmemoryshallever,Beamonumentmorelastingthansculpturedstone.

Remembranceshalldwellontheirtragicalstory,Andpointoutthoseheroeswhodiedpaleandgory,

Yetheavenshallrewardthemwithbrightshiningglory,InregionsfardistantfromdarkBonnymuir.

ButwhyshouldIpassthisgreatpatriotWilson?Whodiedbyoppressiveandarbitrarylaws;

HelefthisdearStravenwithabandofbraveheroes,Resolvedtohavejusticeordieforthecause.

Butalas!hewastaken,whilefateseemedtowaver,Allbloodyhisheadtheydidcruellysever,

Buttheheartofthecountryshallreverenceforever,ThefateofgreatWilson,anddarkBonnymuir.

Nolongertheenemiesofjusticeandfreedom,ShallmakethesonsofScotiainpovertytomourn,

OurnoblepatrioticReformersshallfreethem;Oh,howshallwemakethemagratefulreturn?

Mechanicsshallprosper,andcommerceshallflourish,Thehornofplentyourcountryshallnourish,

Whenthetyrantandalldespotsshallperish,Withpersecutedfreedom,ondarkBonnymuir.

Forward,6January1912.

2. OurBraveSailorKing.Processionsandprotestswerewidespreadandlarge-scaleeventsduringthereformagitationofthe1830s;itwasestimatedthatupto60,000peopleattendedonepro-reformprocessionin Glasgow. This song, published on 7May 1831,wasmost likely inspired by the reformprocessioninGlasgowon2May1831,whichwasorganisedbythecity’strades.Typicallyofreformprocessions in theearly1830s,William IVwas laudedas a great championof thecause.WilliamIVwaswidelybelievedtobequietlysupportiveofreformatthistime,andhehelpedfacilitatethepassageoftheReformBill intheHouseofLordsin1832bygivinghissupporttothecreationofpeeragesthatcouldbegiventoreformers.IntunewiththiswiderappreciationofWilliamIV,thispoembeginsbycelebrating‘OurbraveSailorKing’.ThepoemthenturnsitsattentiontoScotlandandurgesthe'SonsofReform'fromthenorth,south,eastandwesttorallyforreform.Italsodepictsthefestival,processionalatmosphereoftheevent;Glasgowisdescribedasfeelinganexaltationithasneverknownbefore.Thechorusincludesareference to the trades, which isfitting as the Herald to the Trades’ Advocate, thenewspaperinwhichthispoemwaspublished,wasestablishedbythecommitteeoftradesinGlasgow.ThesongissettotheJacobiteair‘Wha’llbeKingbutCharlie’.

MichaelShawAIR.—"Wha'llbeKingbutCharlie."

CHORUS.Comemuster,men,mustertoGlasgowParade,Comemusterandhasteyetoglory!—

Comemusteryourranks,menofeverytrade,Andyournamesshallbefamousinstory.

OurbraveSailorKing,shoutyeallinaring,Comeloyallyforthandsurroundhim;

Andwhawouldnaeloudlythefameofhimsing,WhyletplaguesliketoPharoah'sconfoundhim.

He'sgallantandfreeandasbraveascanbe,Hisgallantandbravetodefendus;

WhenBritainretainssuchamonarchasheThenshalleveryblessingattendus.

Chorus.—Comemuster,&c.Inthenorthwherethedauntlessinactionreside,Withtheirkilts,andclaymores,andtheirplaidies,

OntheeastandthewestofthefamousstreamClyde,Comehasteyetowheretheparadeis.

Comeoutofthesouth,allyeSonsofReform,Bringforwardyourthousandsinorder;

Fornevertillnow,whetherincalmorinstormWasthelikeseenonthissidetheborder!

Comemuster,&c.

Herearebandsinfullchorus,anddrumafterdrum,Therearebannersinhundredsroundwaving;

Heretheyoungandtheold,andthefairgladlycome,Whothecountryfromruinaresaving.

Hurl'ddownfromtheirheightofambition,theknavesWhohaddrenchedourheart's-bloodtoupholdthem;

Butthebanneroflibertygloriouslywaves,Anddowninthemirehavewerolledthem.

Comemuster,&c.AndwhahasarighttorejoiceasweWhohavesat'midstoppressioncontented;

Andnowwhenachangesoimportantwesee,Weshallallgetourselvesrepresented.

We'llallhaveavoteforamantoourmindWhohavetenpoundsinhousesbeside'em;

Andthoughweshouldgropeinthedarklikemolesblind,Weshallrankupandjointheparading.

Comemuster,&c.DideverourGlasgow—theprideofthewest,—Erebeforetrulyfeelexaltation?—

Whenthefateofthebillwasinfactonlyguessed,Thentheyraisedupanillumination.

Butthefateofthebillandthemeasure'snowheard,LetourthankstoKingWilliamberendered.

Andjointheparade,everyman,everytrade,Andajoyousprocessionbetendered.

Chorus.—Comemuster,then,musterandjointheparading,

Comemusterandhasteyeglory;Comemusteryourranksmenofeverytrade,Andyournamesshallbefamousinstory.

ByC.Taylor.HeraldtotheTrades'Advocate,andCo-operativeJournal,7May1831.

3. MilesianMelody.—No.XII."TheyMayRailattheBill."—ByDanielO'Connell.

ThispoemappearedintheconservativeGlasgowCourierin1831,anditservedtowarnitsreadersaboutsomeoftheconsequencesofparliamentaryreform.Thespeakerofthepoemisaparodyof thereformerDanielO’Connell,an Irishpolitical leaderwhocampaignedforCatholic emancipation and the repeal of the Acts of Union of 1800. O’Connell is vilifiedthroughoutthepoem,andhissupportforreformisusedtoattacktheReformBill–hestatesthat he supports the Bill because he believesit will help repeal the Union. O’Connell isportrayedashopingtohaveEngland'undone'andto'pulldowntheChurch'.Heisalsostyledas'Daniel,DictatorofIreland',beforewhomnoSaxon'shalldaretoappear'.ThispoemstokesfearsbycastingO'ConnellasathreattotheBritishstateandProtestantism,anditencouragesthereadertorejecttheReformBill,which(thepoemimplies)willhelpfurtherhiscause.

MichaelShaw

Air—"Theymayrailatthislife."TheymayrailatTHEBILL—fromthehourIfirstreadit,Ifounditabillfullofmischiefandguile;

Intheprideofmyheart,tomySenateIsaidit,Oh,thisisthethingfortheEmeraldIsle?

Assureasitpasses,ouldEngland'sundone.And"Erin,mycountry,""great,glorious,andfree!"

ChurchandStateitwillruin,assureasagun;Oh,thisBillistheBill,boys,foryouandforme.

IntheParliamentHouse,eachnewMembermaybringthemFreshblarneyandprate;—but'tisallinmyeye;

We'lltheUnionrepeal!—totheDevilwe'llflingthem;ForwhoshouldgivelawstogreenErin,butI?

FirsttheChurchwe'llpulldown,andalltitheswe'llabolish;Nevermoreuponhereticmitresyou'llsee,

WhenI'vegiventheStateit'slastradicalpolish:—Oh,thisBillistheBill,boys,foryouandforme.

BythatstaroftheWest,inwhoseluminoussplendourIhailmyyounggloriesjustburstingtoview,

TheSaxon,hisironruleforcedtosurrender,Intears—tearsofblood—thisReformBillshallrue;

AndBritainbewail,fromherdiademtorn,"Thefirstflow'roftheearth,andfirstgemofthesea;"

WhilstErin,mycountry,shalllaughhertoscorn:—Oh,thisBillistheBill,boys,foryouandforme.

AsforthesesillydoltsattheheadoftheNation,HowneatlyIworriedthemoutoftheirwits!

Theirbigdayofjudgmentwasallbotheration—Myfrownsfairlyfrightenedthefoolsintofits.

Onlythinkwhataworldweshallhaveofithere,WhenDANIEL,DictatorofIrelandyousee;

On"thesod"notaSaxonshalldaretoappear:—Oh,thisBillistheBill,boys,foryouandforme.

GlasgowCourier,19May1831.

4. TheNewChevyChase.This long poem was one of the most popular pro-reform poems of 1831, featuring onbroadsidesaswellasintheGlasgowChronicle,theLoyalReformers’GazetteandtheGlasgowEveningPost.Itisareworkingofthetraditional'BalladofChevyChase',thestoryofahuntingparty in theAnglo-ScottishborderlandswhichsparksaconflictbetweenPercy, theEarlofNorthumberland,andtheEarlofDouglas.Thepoettakesadvantageofthefactthatmanyofthenamesandplacesmentionedintheoriginalhadmoderncounterpartsassociatedwiththereform movement: for example, the Whig Prime Minister Earl Grey had been MP forNorthumberland from 1786 to 1807 before being succeeded by Hugh Percy, Earl ofNorthumberland.Thepoemalsoweaves inScottishhistorical references,as theCivilWargeneralJamesGraham,MarquisofMontrose(1612–1650)iscontrastedwithJamesGraham,3rdDukeofMontrose(1755–1836),theJusticeGeneral,andhashiscontemporaryparallelinthereformerJamesGraham,BaronetofNetherby.Themainactionofthepoemtakesplacenot in theBorders, however, but in Lanarkshire, amid the reformagitation that occurredduringthe1831GeneralElection.ThesittingMP,theHon.CharlesDouglas(1775–1848),whoretainedhisseatatthiselectionbeforelosingitinthefirstpost-reformelectionthefollowingyear, is portrayed as a 'recreant' for voting against reform, thereby abandoning the roleplayedbyDouglasintheoriginalballadandfailingtodefend'Scotland'srights'.

HonorRieley I.GodsavetheKingandblesstheland,Inplenty,joy,andpeace,

Andgranthenceforththatfouldebate'Twixtnoblemenmaycease.

II.TheRichDukeofNorthumberlandAvowtoGoddidmake,

Hispleasureofourgoodsandland,Forsevenmoreyearstotake.

III.Todrivehisslaveswiththreatandbribe,DukePercytookhisway,1

Tobuyourrightshedidsubscribe,AndvanquishNobleGrey.2

WiththreetimesfiftyBoroughLords,Allplunderersofthepeople,

Tobuyourlibertiesforgold,Andsellthemoutfortriple.

1HughPercy,3rdDukeofNorthumberland(1785-1847).2CharlesGrey,2ndEarlGrey(1764-1845).

Thesehoundsranswiftlythroughtheland,Thetimidtoalarm,

Andtotheircrytheliveri'dknavesResponsivecalled—toarm.

WhentidingstoKingWilliamcame,Withintheshortestspace,

ThatPercyofNorthumberlandHadrisenatChevyChase.

NowGodbewithus,saidourKing,Sith'twillnobetterbe;

ItrustIhavewithinmyrealmFivehundredasgoodashe.

YetshallnotBoroughmongerssay,ButIwillvengeancetake,

Andberevengeduponthemall,Formybravepeople'ssake.

ThisvowfullwelltheKingperformed,WithintheHouseofLords,

Whenwithself-crownedMajesty,Hequell'dtheirwarofwords.

Henceyemis-representativesOfmytrue-heartedPeople,

NothalfofyoutheyshouldsendbackTooldSt.Stephen'schapel.

ThisnewswasbroughttoEdinburgh,WhereMelvilleoncedidreign,

ThatWilliam,withhisownrighthand,HadGascoigne'sfactionslain.3

Oh,heavynews,Montrosedidsay;

3IsaacGascoyne(1763–1841),BritishArmyofficerandTorypolitician.

TheJusticeGeneralhe—NowmuchIdreadinScotlandIShallgeneraljusticesee.

OfoldMontrose,fortyrantsrose,Forliberty,Argyll;

Argyll'ssubmissiontoMontrose,'Gainstlibertywerevile.

WhenScotland'slonglostrightstoclaim,AllScotland'svoicedidsound,

AndPercy,asofyore,ourfoe—Ah!wherewasDouglasfound.

AlastheancientbloodextinctArecreant—Percyjoins—

Whoneversure,ifdeedshowproof,WassprungfromDouglas'loins.4

WherearethemenofCliddesdale,Whody'dthesilverTweed,

WithPercy'sbloodforScotland'srights—TrueDouglasattheirhead.

OhChrist!myveryheartdothbreakForDouglas'wofulplight—

Forne'ertillnow,theheartandspearDesertedScotland'sright.

XVIII.

LiketidingstofairGlasgowcame,Butnotinsuchshortspace,

Tho'PatriotzealoutstripttheMail,Andfairlywontherace.

AndhereIwouldnothaveittold,ToRichmond'sDukeforshame,5

ThatEdinbro'sMailshouldreachatOne—

4TheMPforLanarkshire,CharlesDouglas,whovotedagainsttheReformBill.5CharlesGordon-Lennox,5thDukeofRichmond(1791–1860).

AndGlasgow'snotthesame.

XX.ForGlasgowhailsherGraciousKing,Withuniversalpraise—

Herfreemenshouting—countlesscrowd—HerStreetsthatjoyfulblaze.

TheRottenborough—Melvillerid—Discordantwiththenation,

Wouldneitherorder—orforbid—PublicIllumination.

AfewGlass-grinderssalliedforth,MacAdamstoredtheirpouch,

ThewholePolicewentstraighttobed—Asbrokenwindowsvouch.

XXIII.

TheJudge'swindowsoncewerebroke,AllfortheDouglas'cause,—

ButHamiltonisnowthenameThatheadsthepeople'scause.

Sincewealththusgained,hasbeenbestowed,Thepeople'srightstobuy,—

IndignantClydesdale—forReform—Hasraisedadreadfulcry.

Seefifty-thousandfightingmen,OnLanarkmarchingall;

TheirpeacefulvoicelikemurmuringClyde,TheirshoutlikeCorra'sFall.

Freemenoftenandfiftypounds,BestridetheirClydesdaleBays;

Suchmenandhorseofboneandblood.AllScotland'sprideshallraise.

XXVII.

AndwhoaretheythatdareusurpTherightsofmenlikethese;

Somefeebleforeignmercenaries,Somesordidslavesforfees.

XXVIII.

SeethepaletroopsfromEdinburgh,OfParchmentCuirassiers;

Eachforaswordinhisrighthand,Abrandish'dgoosequillwears.

TheirDouglasraisedfromtheirownranks,MounteduponanAss,

RodeforemostoftheCompany,Hisarmourshonelikeglass.

Withthattherecameanarrowkeen,OutofanEnglishbow

WhichstrucktheirleadertotheheartAdeepanddeadlyblow.6

ThegallantGrahamofNetherby,ATridenthedidwield,

AtsightofwhichtheParchmentHorseAllshy'dandfledthefield.

XXXII.

Theycrowdedfastandgallopedoff,SoonattheirDeskswereset,

TheirgreygoosequillssoonturnedtopensIntheirInk-standswerewet.

XXXIII.

Nextdaydidmanyvoters'wivesTheirhusbandssorebewail;

Theywash'dtheirgriefswithToddydown,Becausethey'dturn'dtail.

XXXIV.

Desertersdinedontheirdesserts,Insteadofsoliddishes;

Forbythiswofulchangeofparts,Theylosttheloavesandfishes.

6OnelectiondayinLanark,ariotbrokeoutandCharlesDouglaswaspeltedwithstonesandcut'behindtheear'withbrokenglass(GlasgowHerald,16May1831).

ThensteptaDoglatinPoetforth,SirWalterwashisname,

Whosaid,IwouldnothaveittoldToWilliamourKingforshame.

XXXVI.

ForiftoScotlandheshouldcome,Ourselveswemustpresent;

Andwhenwekneelwe'resuretofeel,OurTreasonhe'llresent.

XXXVII.

GodprosperlongournobleKing,Ourlivesandsafetiesall;

Andgrantthatvilecorruption'sruleQuitebloodlesslymayfall.

GlasgowChronicle,2May1831.Note:someotherversions,liketheonepublishedintheLoyalReformer'sGazetteon25June,donotincludestanzas35and36about'SirWalter'.

5. CheSara,Sara.AnexcellentNewSong.

ItwasacommontrendinthisperiodtoappropriateRobertBurns’sverse,bothforreformandanti-reformpoetry.Althoughthesettuneforthispoemisnotexplicitlystated,thepoemisveryclearlyaplayon'IsthereforHonestyPoverty'(alsoknownas'Aman'samanfora'that'). The sentiment of equality espoused in Burns’s song would have appealed to thereformersandtheytrytoinjectthisspiritintothepoem.Thepoemaimsitsfireatthecorruptelite of society; for instance, the boroughmongers (MPs of constituencies with tinyelectoratesornoneatall)arestyledasthe'faes'(foes).TheLordsarealsosubjecttoattackin this poem, as they were in many 1830s reform poems, because the House of LordsrepeatedlypreventedthepassingoftheReformBill.Like‘OurBraveSailorKing’(poem2),KingWilliamisstyledas‘OurpatriotKing’whowillsavethepeoplefromtheanti-reformers,aswillseveralWhigpoliticians.

MichaelShawIsthereforboroughmongeringmight,Whahangshishead,an'a'that?

Thecowardslave!—hisqualmsweslight,An'darebeblythefora'that.

Fora'that,an'a'that,Rightreverenddrones,an'a'that,

OurpatriotKingwilltouscling,An'bangourfaesfora'that.

WhatthoughthedoughtyMarquisfight,ToquellReform,an'a'that,

An'poorSirCharlesandCo.uniteTheirwitsan'wiles,an'a'that,

Fora'that,an'a'that,Theirfishwifeslang,an'a'that,

Wi'GreyandBrougham,an'guidLordJohn,7We'llbaulkthemyetfora'that.

Yeseeyonbirkieca'daLord,Whastormsan'stamps,an'a'that,

Thoughcountry'swealisayehisword,He'sbutaknavefora'that.

Fora'that,an'a'that,Hisvestedrights,an'a'that,

We'llteachhimsunetochangehistune,An'getourainfora'that.

7CharlesGrey,2ndEarlGrey(1764-1845);HenryBrougham(1778-1868)andJohnRussell,1stEarlRussell(1792-1878).

Letlordlingsrave,andbishopsrant,An'bantheBill,an'a'that,

There'sanewhasunecanpatentsgrantTonoblermenthana'that.

Fora'that,an'a'that,Theirfrothan'fume,an'a'that,

Willne'ermakesicakingforsakeHispeople'sguid,an'a'that.

EdinburghWeeklyChronicle,30July1831.

6. Thirty-Two.It isandwasnotunusualforanewspapertoprintadigestofthechiefeventsoftheyeareither at the end of December or at the beginning of a new year in January. Here, thattraditionaljournalisticpracticetakesapoeticforminthePaisleyAdvertiser,withreflectionson1831andanticipationsfor1832.Oneofthechiefmatters1831hadleft‘undone’was,ofcourse,theReformBill.Likemanypoets,theagitationforthefranchiseinBritainissetfirmlywithinaninternationalcontextasthepoetreflectson:

- France:LouisPhilippehadstyledhimselfkingoftheFrenchin1830followingthe‘JulyRevolution’–the‘gloriousthreedays’referredtointhethirdstanza.

- Belgium:LeopoldIwasaGermanprinceoftheduchyofSaxe-Coburg-SaalfeldwhobecametheBelgiankingafterthecountryacquireditsindependencein1830.Hewascrowned‘KingoftheBelgians’ inJuly1831.LeopoldmarriedGeorgeIV’sdaughter,PrincessCharlotte,in1816,andthePalladianmansionofClaremont(Surrey)wastheirfamily home, retained by Leopold following Charlotte’s death in 1817 until hisdepartureforBelgiumin1831.

- Brazil:Pedro IofBrazilabdicated inApril1831 inorder to re-establishhisholdonPortugal.TheassociationbetweentheHouseofBarganzaandthethroneofPortugalgoesbacktotheseventeenthcentury.

- Poland:TheNovemberUprising(1830-1831)againsttheRussianEmpirewascrushedinthewinterof1831.ItwasthefocusofanumberofpoemsinthePaisleypressatthistime.

- China:escalatingtensionswiththeChineseQingdynastywouldeventuallyleadtotheFirstOpiumWarin1839-1842.

- USA:freetradewasthefocusofdebateanddiscussioninthisperiod(particularlyinrelationtotextiles),spawningpublicationssuchastheFreeTradeAdvocate/BanneroftheConstitution.SeeCondyRaguet,ThePrinciplesofFreeTrade[1835],EssayNo78(12January1831),fordetailsrelatingtothecharacter‘Jonathan’appearinghere.

- Ireland:DanielO’Connell,havingledthesuccessfulfightforCatholicemancipationin1829,turnedhisattentiontotherepealoftheActofUnion(1801).Thereferencetoalcohol here touches upon O’Connell’s connections with the drinks trade: his sonacquiredthePhoenixBreweryinDublinin1831.

CatrionaM.M.MacdonaldThyjourneyisbroughttoacloseThirtyone,Tothytombthounowmustgo:

Ifasked,wouldItraveltheeoveragain,Iwouldpromptlyanswer,No,

Thoughofjoysthoughhastgivenmeamplestore,YetIwillinglysayadieu,

Andtransferallmyjoysandmysorrowso'erTothyrivalThirty-two.

Withbustlingactivitythouhastgoneby,Manyjobsthouhastbegun,

Butmanyofthese,thoucanstneverdeny,Thouartleavingquiteundone.

Onthisday,whichclosesthybusycareer,Wewilltakeatransientview,

Andexaminethelightinwhichthingsappear,EreweenteronThirty-two.

OurneighboursinFrancewiththeirphysicalforce,Expectedtheirtrialso'er,

Buttheir"Gloriousthreedays,"haveleftthemworseByfar,thantheywerebefore.

Allthosewholovechanges,anddisregardlaw,Willbegintheirtaskanew,

Andabaslanoblesse,lespretres,etleRoi,-downwiththenobility,thepriestsandthekingWillbesunginThirty-two.

Ofthevariouscrownssenta-beggingaround,OnethebrowsofLeopoldadorns,

HeshouldnothavechangedhisgoodEnglishcrowns,Forapooronebegirtwiththorns.

Fromwhathehasseen,sincetoreignhebegan,Wethinkhewillgrantittrue,

ThathisClaremontwasbetterinThirtyoneThanBrusselsinThirty-two.

OftherichandresplendentBraziliancrown,DonPedrohaslosthishold,

Butunwillingfromgreatnesstotoppledown,Hecomestoreclaimtheold

Betwixtthepossessor,andthisrivalDon,Astrugglewillsoonensue,

AndwhoistositonBraganza'sthrone,MustbetoldbyThirty-two.

OfPoland'sbravesons,whotheirarmourassumed,Theirlibertytoregain,

Toapatriot'sgrave,somethousandsaredoomed,Andsometoagallingchain.

Ifcourageandbravery,honourandright,Hadmetwithwhatistheirdue,

TheflagofFreedomwouldhavegladdenedthesightAtWarsaw,inThirty-two.

OurcomercewithChinahasgotasadblow—TheEmperorTchingfoTchee,

Unlesswesubmissivelykisshisgreattoe,WontgiveusachestofTea.

Wehope,thoughhisvowsmaybesomewhatrash,Hewillkeeptohisthreateningstrue,

Infarbettertimeswedispens'dwithsuchtrash,Andwhynot,inThirty-two?

Hasthathumbug"FreeTrade"extendedwest?No,Jonathan'snosuchfool,

AstosufferhisweaverstostarveinrestWhilehestrutsinBritishwool.

Allarebusyandhappy,wellfedandcontent,Andareaskingwhatthey'lldo,

TogettheproceedsoftheirlighttaxesspentIntheyearofThirtytwo.

O'ConnellinIrelandwithlogicprofound,Keepsthecry'Repeal'alive,

Agitationhasgainedfifteenshillingsapound,Buthewantstheotherfive.

AParliamentassembledinCollegegreen—Notythestotheparsonsdue—

ScotchwhiskyabandonedforIrishpotheen,ArethehopesofThirty-two.

TheattentionofEnglandisallengrossed,ByCholera,andtheBill—

Thoughtheoneshouldbecaught,andtheotherbelost,Theworldwillmoveonstill.

Mayreformfirstofallathomebegin,Andwithheartswarm,lealandtrue,

Letthemotto,"FearGodandhonourtheKing,"BeouroneinThirtytwo

PaisleyAdvertiser,31December1831.

7. TheSpiritofToryism,AsDisplayedattheLateLiteraryDinnertotheEttrickShepherd.

Thispoem,publishedinthestridentlypro-reformScotsTimesnewspaper,attemptstoclaimRobertBurnsasaproto-reformer,andmocksthoseanti-reformerswhocelebrateBurnsbutarenofriendsofliberty.Thespeakerstatesthateveryyearhedrainsabowlof'whisky-punch'inmemoryofBurns,andheisfullofjoytohearthatsomeToriesaredoingsotoo.However,whenheattendsadinnerforJamesHogg(theEttrickShepherd),whichispresumablyalsoaBurnsSupper,hefindsitdisconcertingtoseeHogg,theDukeofBuccleuch,andtherestofthe'Torythrong'notactuallycommemoratingBurnsbutjustmarkingtheir'hateofaPatriotKing'.This patriot king is King William IV, who was broadly supportive of parliamentaryreform.Insteadofcelebratingtheking,thegroupcelebratetheDukeofWellingtonandJohnWilsonCroker–keyfiguresintheanti-reformmovement.Indeed,the'Torythrong'arealsodescribed as 'borough-born patriots', implying that they are fromrotten burghs(constituencieswithtinyelectorates),whichthereformerswerehopingtoeradicate.Attheendofthepoem,thespeaker,'wishingtoheavenIhadneverbeenthere',strollsawayfromtheTorygathering.ThispoemearlierappearedinTheGlasgowChronicle(6February),whereitwasattributedtoTheGlobe,aLondonnewspaper–anindicationthattheassociationofBurnswithradicalpoliticswasoccurringonanational,aswellasalocal,levelinthelead-uptothepassageoftheReformBill.

MichaelShawEveryyearofmylifedoIdrainabowlOfgoodwhiskypunch,asthedayreturns

WhichfirstgavebirthtotheglorioussoulOfLiberty'schosenminstrel,Burns!

Andthisyear'twasjoytomyhearttothinkThatevenaTorycouldhelptotwine

AwreathforthebrowoftheBard,anddrinkThememoryproudofthatsouldivine.

YetIhadmymisgivingsatfirst,'tistrue,—For,seeingtheShepherdofEttrickthere,

IthoughtoftheliberalDukeofBuccleugh,AndthepatronswhomaddenedthePoetofAyr!

'Well,well!theyarehere,"saidI,"andsure"TheycomebuttohonourtheGod-bornart,

"Andhonourtothemforthatwishmostpure!"HowlittleIknewofaTory'sheart!

Notthegeniusandwoesoftheillustriousdead,Northebeautyandgloryoffadelesssong,

Northewishtoshedlightroundalivinghead,Hadmuster'dthecold-bloodedTorythrong.

Butwith"swelteringvenom"andvileregard,Theirpaltrypœanstheycametosing,

OnthenataldayofaPatriotBard,TomarktheirhateofaPatriotKing.

And—worthyofheartsandmindsliketheirs—TheyofferedtheQueenanaffectionateshout,

AsthoughitformedpartofherRoyalcaresThatCrokerwascross,andtheBaronet"out."

AndWellington,too—anamethattellsOfvalourandtriumphtoEnglishears,

Washauledbythethrongwithinfuriateyells,Theminglingtonesoftheirhopesandfears.

ThentheSpouting-clubpupilswho,onebyone,Havelordedandleadedtheslumberinghouse,

Gaveterribleproofthat'tisponderousfunWhenproserswillpratethoughunblestwithnous.

SoImutteredmycurses—notloud,butdeep,Andd——dthisjumbleoflordandslave;

Butasusual,myrageIcontrivedtosteepInadesperatepullattheLetheanwave!

Tilltheborough-bornpatriotshadbawledtheirshare,AndthePorchesterpoetshadsaidtheirsay—

When,wishingtoheavenIhadneverbeenthere,Ifinishedmybottleandstrolledaway!ScotsTimes,11February1832.

8. TaskforAnti-Reformers.TheAyrAdvertiserwasthemostprominentpro-reformnewspaperinAyrinthe1830s,anditprinted severalpro-reformpoems including 'Task forAnti-Reformers'. The speakerof thisparodicpoemisananti-reformerwhohopesto'stoptheprogressoftheBill.'Thepoem'sfirsttwostanzasaskanunnamedindividualtoprovetheirstrengthinvariousways(forexample,theyareinstructedto'quenchEtnawithacupoftea')todemonstratethattheycanovercomethepro-reformmovement. Indoing this, thepoempresents the reformmovementas anunstoppable,almostnatural,force.Inthefinalstanza,thespeakerinstructsthisindividualtomanipulatesomekeyreformerstochangetheirpositionandopposethebill;onesuchtaskistomaketheRadicalMPJosephHume'forgethiscountry'sweal'.Thespeakeralsoaskshishearer to 'stillwoman's tongue', suggesting thatwomenmayhavebeen influential in thereformmovement.Thepoemlaterappeared,underthetitle'TasksfortheAnti-Reformers',intheEdinburghWeeklyChronicle.

MichaelShaw"Goforgemefettersthatwillbind"Therageofthetempestuouswind;Soundwithaneedlefulofthread,Thedepthofocean'sstormybed;Snaplikeatwig,thetoughoaktree,QuenchEtnawithacupoftea:Insuchmanœuvresshowyourskill,ThenstoptheprogressoftheBill!WithLady'sveil,atCorralinn,GostemtheClydeandhushitsdin;ProudArthur'sseat,fromLothian'splainWithonefellkicksendtothemain.ThewatersoftheForthdivide,Pilewaveonwaveoneitherside,Thatoysterwivestheircreelsmayfill,ThenstoptheprogressoftheBill!MakeHumeforgethiscountry'sweal,ReformermakeSirRobertPeel,MakeBroughamandGreytheirtrustabuse,8MakeBoroughmongersbribesrefuse;Makepriestswithouttheirstipendpreach,Orgratisact—thelawyerLeach,Stillwoman'stongue,andcurbherwill,ThenstoptheprogressoftheBill! W.A.AyrAdvertiser,orWestCountryJournal,24May1832.

8HenryBrougham(1778-1868)andCharlesGrey,2ndEarlGrey(1764-1845).

9. [UpJohnBullandclearyourbrows]InMay1832,aparliamentaryandsocialcrisisbrokeout,nowknownasthe‘DaysofMay’.After theToriessuccessfullyblockedtheThirdReformBill in theHouseofLords, thepro-reformWhiggovernmentfell,whichbredanxietyamongreformersacrossthecountry,andled to social unrest and rioting. However, the Duke ofWellington failed to form a TorygovernmentandEarlGrey’sWhigswerereinstatedon15May1832.Thissong,settothetuneofWalterScott’s‘DonaldCaird’,reflectstheresurgentconfidenceofthereformmovement.It appeared in a Scotsman report on 'Reform Meetings' that were held throughoutScotland.Wearetoldthat,followingaKirkcaldymeeting,apartywasheldtocelebratethereturnoftheWhiggovernment,andthissongwassungthere.Thesongaddresses'JohnBull','Irish Pat' and 'Caledonians', and advises them to drink to celebrate the return of Grey'sgovernment.Wearetoldthatthe'boroughmongerloonandBishop'havebeenovercome:suchdenunciationsofbishopswerecommoninreformpoetryaroundthistimeastheChurchofEnglandbishopsintheHouseofLordshadvotedagainstthesecondreadingoftheReformBill.TheScotsmanreportnotesthatthesongcamefromtheLondonGazetteExtraordinary,althoughthesongiswritteninScots.

MichaelShaw(Tune—"DonaldCaird.")UpJohnBullandclearyourbrows,'Tisnotbloodbutwinethatflows:IrishPat,mytrustyfellow,Golaybyeyourbigshillelah:Caledonians!—bauldandfierce,Naethingnowbutbarrelspierce,Anddrinkandshoutthroughbrughandglen,EarlGrey'scomebackagain.Farowreguidtobealord—Grey's"aman"—hekeepshisword;Preachesayefraethesametext,Tho'Kingandkimmerbaithbevext. kimmer–wifeorfemalefriendBoroughmongerloonandBishop,Godbepraised!he'llfairlydishup;Thebutchertykeo'WaterlooMaybidgudee'entoglorynow.Greycomeback!quickpasstheliquor,Drinkthoughfathomdeepilkbicker;A'whalikeyourcountryweel,Drink—yourmanistrueassteel—Trueiseverysoulthat'snearhim,Brougham'sthere—naedoubtyou'llhearhim:Russell,Althorp,a'yourmen

O'honesty,arebackagain!9Scotsman,26May1832.

9LordJohnRussell(1792-1878)andJohnSpencer,ViscountAlthorp(1782-1845).

10. TheFloggedSoldier.Supportingthereformcausecouldprovecontroversialinsomeprofessions.ThispoemreferstoAlexanderSommervilleoftheRoyalScotsGreys,whowasalsoaradicaljournalist.Afterpublishing a letter that revealed the reformist sympathies of fellow soldiers and theirdiscontentoverhowreformershadbeentreated,Sommervillereceivedonehundredlashes.This fact became a public scandal and The Reformers’ Gazette, a Glasgow periodical,publishedmanyarticlessupportingSommerville;italsoranapublicsubscriptionforhim.Thispoem reflects The Reformers’ Gazette’s support for Sommerville, referring to those whoadministeredhispunishmentas'savagesouls'whodefile'thegloryofournativeisle'.Thepoemalsoreferencesthewidespreadpublicoutcryagainsthisflogging,anditstatesthattheScotswillholdhimdearandstandbehindhim.AnotherpoemonSommerville,‘AddresstoA.Sommerville, ScotsGreys’, also published inThe Reformers’ Gazette, describes him as an‘injur’dpatriot’.

MichaelShawShallsilencewiththeMusesreign,Orotherthemestheirpowersconstrain,Andrenderthusthecallinvain,

TowakeforinjuredSommerville?MethinksIseethesonofsong,Oftenderheartandfeelingstrong,Thatglowedforright,thatspurnedatwrong,

Endurethelashofcruelty!Thebloodyscourgehemutelybears,Thetenderfleshitrudelytears,Thebloodstreamsforth—hisvisagewears

Theveilofsadpallidity.Hebleeds,alas!unknowntothoseWhoseloveforhimmostdearlyglows,Andthousandsnowthato'erhiswoes

Deepmeltintendersympathy.Theymelt,andburnwithbitterire,Whiledutycallsforanger'sfireToglareagainstthedarkdesire,

Thatstoletosuchatrocity.YesavagesoulswhothusdefileThegloryofournativeisle,Ourworthydaughtersne'ershallsmile

Onsonsofsuchbarbarity.Ojustice,markthehatedcrew,

Andwhilethedeeddemandsthedue,Witheagereyetheirstepspursue,

Andstrikethemwithseverity.And,Sommerville,ariseandsing,Highsoaringonthemuse'swing;AndletthynotesthroughScotlandring,

Thelandofthynativity.Ourgallantsonsthysongshallhear,Ourdaughtersfairshalllendanear,Andallinheartshallholdtheedear:

Thybloodshallbringtheevictory.J.FALCONER.

Kilsyth,July,1832.Reformers'Gazette,14July1832.

11. ReformSong.AftertheWhiggovernmentwasreinstatedfollowingthe‘DaysofMay’,theReformBillwasgivenroyalassenton7June1832.Followingthisnews,aproliferationofpoemsandsongswerewrittentocommemoratetheevent,ofwhichthisbroadsidesongisanexample.Thespeakerasks'sonsofScotia'to'raiseyourvoice/Withshoutsofexaltation',tocelebratethepassingoftheReformBill.ThepoemapplaudstheworkoftheWhigs,whoareportrayedasreleasingthepeoplefromslavery;JohnMaxwellandthePaisley'folk'whoelectedhimarealsopraised(SirJohnMaxwellofPollokwaselectedastheMPforPaisleyin1832;hissonbecameMemberforLanarkshireinthesameelection).ReformisthendescribedasasteppingstonetowardsrepealingtheCornLaws.Therearenopublicationdetailsgivenonthispoem,sowecannotbecertainofwhereorwhenitwaspublished,butthereisahandwrittennoteononecopyofthebroadsideintheNationalLibraryofScotland,'10Aug't1832',whichmayrefertothepublicationdate.

MichaelShawSonsofScotiaraiseyourvoiceWithshoutsofexaltation,

TheBillispast,wehaveatlastFreetradethroughoutthenation.

Russel&Brougham,Althorp&Hume,Labouredbothlateandearly!

TheChampionGreyhaswontheday,Nowhehasbeatthemfairly.

Thelastdebatethatdidtakeplace,ThetwelfthdayofJuly,man,

Nolongerknaveswillkeepusslaves,Thecontestitisby,man,

Yontenpoundvoters,nowIhope,Youwillhavenoobjection,

Tochooseafewcandidatesitistrue,FortheincomingElection.

ThePaisleyfolkhavegainedapplause,Fromfriendandeachrelative,

ForchoosingMaxwelloftheShaw,FortheirRepresentative.

TheCornBill,comeoftitwill,Andeverycursedtaxation,

Reformerstheymayblesstheday,Theygainedthereformation.

TheReformersbrave,theirflagsdidwave,

Theirdrumsdidbeatan'a',man,Thebellswillringandfolkswillsing,BraveGreyhaswaur'dthema',man.

Fillupyourglass,roundletitpass,Sincewethedayhaveseen,man,

Thatwe'llbefreefromtyranny,SinceGreyhaswaur'dthema',man.

12. ACanvassingEpisode.Fewpoemsconcerningthe1832ReformBillagitationcommentontheroleofwomenandthis poem is especially rare in foregrounding female participation in the anti-reformcampaigns.Anexplanatorynoteisincludedalongsidethepoemtogivecontext:'Forsomeweeks past several genteelly-dressed young women have made a practice of annoyingrespectableshopkeepers,byhauntingtheirshopsandthreateningthemwithlossofcustom,should they vote for a Reform Candidate'.This poem focuses on one such woman, whoinstructs a shopkeeper to vote for 'Mr Blair' – Forbes Blair, the Tory candidate for theEdinburghseatsatthe1832GeneralElection.Whenshefindsoutthatthisshopkeeperhaspledged his vote to theWhigs (Francis Jeffrey and James Abercromby) she threatens towithdrawhercustom.ThepoemmocksthisTorytacticofintimidatinglocalbusinessmen.

MichaelShaw

Theladyliftsherparasol,andekeherreticule,Andforthshetripsashoppinginthemorningbrightandcool;Themercerlosespatienceasheturnshisribbonso'er,Andbutforhopesofmoneyhewouldshowhertothedoor.Alas,hishopesarebootless,forhelistenswithastareTothelispingofhersilvervoice—"you'llvoteforMrBlair."Themercerhelooksupatfirst,andthenagainlooksdown,Andthelady'sbrowofpolish'dwhiteisgath'ringtoafrown:Themercerblushesfieryred,andthenagainturnspale,Andsilentonthecounterspreadsofsilkalustrousbale;Buthishopesthustoevadeherareascastlesintheair,Forwithtinysilverysternnesssherepeats—"you'llvoteforBlair."Thenintospeechreluctantlybreaksforththewilfuldumby,"He'ssorry,buthe'spledgedhisvotetoJeff.andAbercromby."Cheek,brow,andneck,arecrimson'do'er,andadarkeyeflashesfire,Anditsthusoutspeakstheladyinthefervourofherire:"GosellyoursilkstoRadicals,yourflowerstolowborndrabs,"Reformers'goodsshallne'erpollutepatricianmarbleslabs;"There'sLady—,andMrs—,mycousinJane,andI,"Willallgonaked,ereourdressfromnaughtymenwebuy."Themercerquakes,andlooksaghast,asforththeladybounces,Andthestreetre-echoestotheshakeofherindignantflounces,BeforeherangryrushingeachsturdyCeltgivesway,Andopenmouthedlooksafterher,inhorroranddismay. R.P.Scotsman,4August1832.

13. FablesfromAncientAuthors,orOldSawswithModernInstances.ByPeterPilpay,Gent.

No.IV.—TheBlackamoor.Theeditoroftheshort-livedjournalinwhichthispoemappears,TheTenPounder,wasPeterBrown,whoidentifiedhimselfasa‘tenpounder’:‘oneofthosewhohavebeencalledintopoliticalexistence,asitwere,bythegreatmeasurewhichhaslatelygivenanewcharactertopublicaffairs’.TheReformBillensuredthatthosemenwhopaidanannualrentof£10hadtherighttovoteinparliamentaryelections.Despitenowbeingenfranchised,Brownwasacritic of reform and was resoundingly opposed to theWhigs and those calling for morereform,whichisevidentthroughoutTheTenPounderandinthispoem.ThepoembeginswithadescriptionofanEthiopianslave,whoisportrayedasanefficientworkerincomparisontohiswhite'brethren'.Themasterthendecidestoapplyalotiontomaketheslave,describedasan 'AdmirableCrichton' in referencetothesixteenth-centuryScottishpolymathof thatname, white. Other slaves are then brought to scrub the slave and he dies. The poemconcludeswithastanza,titled'Moral':themoralofthepoemisthatreformislikethesoapandwater used to scrub the slave (who symbolises the constitution).In otherwords, therobust constitutionwill bedestroyedby toomanyattempts to changeand reform it.It isnoteworthythatthispoemwaswrittentheyearbeforetheSlaveryAbolitionActof1833.

MichaelShaw

"Stavabene,mapustarmeglio,stoque."Iwaswell,but,wishingtobebetter,hereIlie.Ithappen'donceaworthycit,Whosewealthwasgreaterthanhiswit,Butwho,likethosethatcausewayhell,Whate'erhedid,intendedwell,AswingingsumofmoneygaveInbarterforanEthiopslave.Thissootyinfidelwasstout—Abustlingfellow,inandout;Hisribssohoop'd,hischestsoround,Hislimbssostark,hiswindsosound,AmanwithhalfaneyemightseeTheBlackcoulddotheworkofthree.Andsoitproved;asmarterstrapperDidnevercurrysteedinstable;

AndneverflunkyhalfsodapperFlittedaroundadinnertable.

Hecouldhewwoodandtrimachin—Sow,reap,andbringtheharvestin;Couldkillapig,andbakeandbrew—Makeoldclotheslookaswellasnew—Couldmanufacturejamandjelly—

Mendbrokenglassandbreakafilly—Growcucumbersandmanagefruit—Playonthefiddleandtheflute—Inshort,itwouldtakelongtotellHowmuchhecoulddo,andhowwell.Buthiswisemastertookanotion,That,sincehisBlackwasblackasnight,

ThereoughttobesomewashorlotionTomakehim,likehisneighbours,white.

TheBlackoutviedinwork,'twastrue,Hisbrethrenofafairerhue;Whiletheywax'dlazyandperspir'd,TheBlackwasactiveanduntir'd;Theyblunder'drightandleft,whileheFromscrapeandscathkepteverfree:Uprightinheart,inlabourfervent—Quiteaninvaluableservant.ButstillthisAdmirableCrichtonOfhouseholdflags,wasnotawhiteone;Andofasnowyskin,hisownerResolv'dtoprovehimselfthedonor.'TweredifficulttoguessthereasonOfloveofchangesooutofseason:PerhapssomeenviousfellowslaveFirsttohislordthecounselgave;Or,itmaybe,thewhimwasbredInhisownsoftandsimplehead:Nomatterwhich—itwashiswillTowhitewashTauro'scuticle.Theslavesassembled—tubswerebrought—Soap,acids,andenoughofwater—

Lukewarmandtepid,coldandhot—Toscareasealorswampanotter:

Norlack'dthereaughtthatpurifies—Brushesofeverysortandsize—Fleshscrapers,sponges,pumice-stone—Bristlesofsteelinbedsofbone.GodhelppoorTauroinhistub!Frommorntonight'twasscrub—scrub—scrub—Theysplash'danddash'dthewatero'erhim,Andwiththeircursedenginestorehim,Till,whatbetweenthecoldandwet,Andmaliceofthathellishset—Whatwiththelossofthatsameskin

Hismasterdeem'dablotandsin—Yieldingatoncebothhealthandhide,PoorTaurosicken'd,sunk,anddied!

MORAL.Reader!amorallessonwemaygather,Norhaplyuseless,fromtheseidlerhymes—

Nottojoininnovatingfools,butratherContentuswiththecolourofthetimes.

OftheproudCONSTITUTIONofourlandTheworthyslavemayforanemblemstand:LetBRITONS,representedbyhismaster,Looksharply,lesttheyshareinhisdisaster;Andfind,toolate,REFORMismuchakinTosoapandwaterontheEthiop'sskin.TheTen-Pounder,22September1832.

14. [Thereweretimes,myLordJeffrey,betweenyouandme]This song features in an instalment of Blackwood’s Magazine’s long-running series, the'Noctes Ambrosianae’. The magazine's fictional editor-figure Christopher North and hissecretaryMullionarevisitedbyFrancisJeffrey(1773–1850),whohadintroducedtheScottishReform Bill in Parliament and was standing for election in Edinburgh alongside JamesAbercromby:'Here'sTheAdvocatecomeinfullfigtocanvassyouforyoursecondvoteinAuldReekie'. The ToryBlackwood's had a long and acrimonious historywith Jeffrey,who hadeditedtherival,WhiggishEdinburghReviewuntil1829.Asaresult,thefictiveJeffreygetsapricklyreception:NorthcastsdoubtonhisandAbercromby'slong-standingcommitmenttoreform, then sings a song that questions the value of political upheaval as a means foreffectingtrue,lastingsocialchange(ifsuchchangeistobeconsidereddesirableinthefirstplace). Thisproved tobeapopularanti-reformpoemthatwasdetached from its specificBlackwoodian context and republished (with some slight amendments) in severalconservative newspapers across Scotland, including theGlasgow Herald and AberdeenObserver.Thepoemwasalsoincluded,underthetitle'ANewSong',inPeterBrown'sReformSongsandSquibs,ananthologyoflargelyanti-Whigpoemsfromtheearly1830s.

HonorRieley

AIR"Comebothertheirbuttons,quothTomo'theGoose."Thereweretimes,myLordJeffrey,betweenyouandme,Ratherblitherthanthosewearelikelytosee;Whenplainfolkwenttochurch,lovedandhonour'dtheirking,Andourhard-workingfarmersheardnothingofSWING.NogroansthenweregivenforTithes,Taxes,orRent,Therichmanlook'dkindness,thepoormancontent,Andthoughwarragedwithoutweweredeaftoitsdin,Midsttheheart-cheeringhumofourtreddleswithin.Therewasworkontheshore,therewaswealthonthesea,Abroadtherewasglory,athometherewasglee;Menstucktothecounter,theshop,andtheloom;AndlaughedattheravingsofCobbettandHume.10ButourSolonsinplacehavefoundout,itwouldseem,Allthiswealthwasaburden,thiscomfortadream;Ourhomesmustbeleftforthehustings—Godwot!AndHappinessturnsonfranchiseornot.LookafteryourTillwastheruletilloflate,Butnow'tis,lookaftertheTilloftheState;

10WilliamCobbett(1763–1835)andJosephHume(1777–1855).

Evenourschoolmaster'sta'ensuchafancytoroam,YouwillneverbychancefindhimfloggingATHOME!TimewaswhenwedranktothehealthofourKing,Butnowwe'vediscoveredthatisn'tthething—Thatourrulershenceforthshouldhavenothingtodo—Andthemobshouldbemonarchandministrytoo!TimewaswhentheMaceortheSwordoftheLawKeptthegoodmaninsafety,thescoundrelinawe;Nowlawmusttobrickbatsandbludgeonsgiveplace,Andburningatownthrowsnewlightonthecase.Arewericher,orbetter,orhappiernow?Sitslifewithitstroublesmorelightonourbrow?Doesplentyflowinwiththe"Minister'sPlan?"—DoesManlookmorekindormorelovingonMan?Isthehumofourenginesmoreloud?DoweseeMoreshipsintheharbour,moreploughsonthelea?Willflagsandprocessionspayweaverstheirhire,Oravotelayalogonthelabourer'sfire?Oh!not—tillthespiritofchangeshallbelaid,Tillthelimbsreacknowledgetheruleofthehead;TilleachhonestReformershallstooptotheartOfreforminghisownrottenborough—THEHEART;—Tillbanish'dReligionandFaithshallreturn,AndbrightinourbosomsoldLoyaltyburn,TillLabourandConfidencewalksidebyside,AndReverencesitintheplaceofWhigPride;—Willthecloudsofdistressthato'ershadowoursky,Likemistsofthemorning,breakupandblowby;Ourtumults,ourterrors,oursufferingscease,AndPlentycomesmiling,sweetdaughterofPeace!Blackwood'sMagazine,October1832.

15. TheWhigs'SupplicationtoApollo.Satirewasapopularrhetoricalweaponforpoliticalpoetsintheearly1830s,andthispoemfrom the conservative Aberdeen Observer highlights the fact that newspapers werecompetingtopublishthestrongestsatiricalverse.Thepoemappearsinthefirstofaseriesof'DramaticScenes'intheAberdeenObserver;thisinstalmentistitled'Joint-stockEditorinhisStudy'.Inthepreambletothispoem,thedevilenterstheeditor’sstudyandcomposes'TheWhigs'SupplicationtoApollo'.Thepoem,writteninHabbiestanza,orBurnsstanza,parodiesthevoiceofareformer,reflectingonthehopelessnessofthereformers’poetry.Thespeakerstates thatwhile reformerscannotwriteeffectivepoetry, theTories 'never fail /Towritebaithproseandversesaewell'.Thespeakerthenimplores:'O,gieusSatire'sscorpionlash’so that they can attack the anti-reformers aswell as the anti-reformers attack them.TheAberdeenObserver’spro-reformrival,theAberdeenHerald,isinvokedinthispoem,withtheimplicationbeingthatitspoetryispitiful.Thefactthatthedevilhaswrittenthispoem,andmaybeitsspeaker,reflectsabroadtrendinanti-reformpoetryinthisperiodofassociatingthedevilwiththereformers.

MichaelShawDEVIL.—(Solusandseatinghimself.)HereIamintheEditor'schair.Iwonderifthere'sonyinspirationin't.Here'spenandinkandpaper,andwhatforshouldnaItrytocomposean"article?"Shoulditbeproseorpoetry?Poetrysticksbesttofolk'smemory,andsoheregoesO,brightApollo—Jove'sgreatson!WhathaethepoorReformersdone,Thatnaneo'themhase'erbegun

(Thatwe'veheardtello')Inverseorprosetosoun'theirdrone

But'smadeafeelo'.WhyshouldtheToriesneverfailTowritebaithproseandversesaewell,Whanwe,whaoughttobearthebell

Aboonsicwretches,Shou'dayebetumbleddownthehill

(HiatusinM.S.)ShallwefraeweektoweekaddressThepublicfraetheHeraldPressAn'provetheToriesadisgrace

Tomeno'honour,An'yetbemade,bythatcurstrace,

Awarld'swon'er.Ifwepoeticlicensetak'An'striveaweebitlietomak',DowncomesaTorywi'awhack

Outo'erourhurdies,An'garsusinstantlyretract,

An'eatourwordies.Shou'dEbEbEgwriteinourfavour,SomeToryproveshisworkahaver,Shou'dmaster"T."histhreatsdeliver

FraeBannerMill,Theretributiontellsforever

Uponhimsel'.NaesoonerJohnbestridesPegasus,An'writestopleasetheworkin'classes,ButsomeconfoundedToryasses

Areinhiswitters,An'tearshisPamphleta'topieces—

"Toragsan'tatters."LookdownbrightSol!wi'pityinge'e,Thesonso'freedom'ssufferingssee;An'iftoservetheGoodCause,we

Musttruthabandon,Gi'esharnsatleasttomak'alie

Wi'feettostandon.Gi'eEbEbEgmairinformation,Gi'eBrither"T."aweediscretion,PitWriterJohnnyinapassion,

ThathemaystormAn'shack'hismanewi'indignation,

An'roarReform!O,gi'eusSatire'sscorpionlashOurscoundrelToryfoestothrash,Wi'strengthan'wittheirpowerstocrush;

O,gloriousfun!Togarthemsufferintheflesh

Asweha'edone.Gi'estruepoeticinspiration;O!brightenourimagination,Till,bytheclearillumination,

WegartheHeraldBereadwi'rapturousadmiration

Thro'a'theworld.An'whanwe'vemade,bythygreatpower,

Ourcallingandelectionsure,There'sfourteenhun'erWhigsan'more,

Wi'openjaws,ShallGlorytothyGodshiproar!

Inloudhuzzas.Andsothepoem'sfinished,andthelum'sburntout,andI'llbeofftobreakfast.(ExitDevilsinging,"Satansittin'intheneuk,Bonnyladdie,Highlandladdie,

Rivin'stickstoroasttheDuke,&c.&c.)11AberdeenObserver,5October1832.

11ArthurWellesley,DukeofWellington(1769-1852).

16. TotheBanffshireVoters.ANewSong.

FollowingthepassageoftheReformBill,ageneralelectionwascalledforDecember1832.Theissueofreformstilldominatedthiselection,withmanyreformersarguingthattheTorieshadbetrayedthepeople,andtheToriesattemptingtorallytheanti-reformers.Thispoemisfrom the Aberdeenshire campaign,whichWilliamGordon, the Tory candidate, ultimatelywon.Thespeakerofthispoem,publishedintheLiberalAberdeenHerald,sarcasticallyliststhe Tory’s supposed strengths, highlighting the fact that he does not have the people’sinterestsatheart.ThepoemmocksGordon'ssupposed'reformist'credentialsandtheideathathefoughtfora'fairReform'.ItcautionsvotersandremindsthemthattheToriescanonly'thwartreform'.

MichaelShaw

Tune,"Whistleo'erthelaveo't."YeBanffshireVoters,anean'a',Feuarsandfarmers—greatan'sma',Arouse!unite!yourspiritshaw!

Andvotefor—ColonelGordon.Yourmattersa'hewelldoesken;Hisinterests,too,arejustyourain;Andhe'llyouservewi'mightan'main—

Thegallant—ColonelGordon.Heisconvenerofyourshire;Tonamehisclaimsitwadyoutire;Torightyourwrangsnanecanaspire

Saefitas—ColonelGordon.Lookatthepast,andthereyou'llfindStrongproofsofhisclear,vigorousmind;Thegoodo'Banffhisheartentwined—

Convener—ColonelGordon.Thatyeyourprivilegehavegot,Spiteo'Pitfour—andrighttovoteIspartlyowing—isitnot?

Toactive—ColonelGordon.ForfairReformyoufoughtwi'might,Ye'vegotitnow;—'tisworthyourfight;Itsmovementsa'willsuregangright,

Watch'do'erby—ColonelGordon.Forshame!TothinkaTorycan

Haveaughtinview,butmaryourplan,AndthwartReform;—na,na,yourman

Isclearly—ColonelGordon.Letsillysumphstopollbeled,Likesheepinraipsforslaughterfed;Siclaughing-stocksye'llnaebemade,

Whavotefor—ColonelGordon.Consistencyandself-respect,Andzealyourintereststoprotect;Allmotivesurgeyoutoelect

Reformer—ColonelGordon.October. COMMONSENSE.P.S.—ABanffbitJustice,dullan'dour,'Boutgrammarcarps—spitsspitelikestour;Popsaffhispluffo'pithlesspower,

Yesee,at—ColonelGordon.

AberdeenHerald,27October1832.

17. ANewWhigGarland.Poetryinthe1830swascommonlyprintedonbroadsides–singlesheetsofpaperthatwereoftensoldverycheaply.Duetotheirephemeralnature,theyarehardtotraceandhavenotbeen preserved as well as periodicals or poetry volumes. But, thankfully, numerousbroadsidesconnectedtothe1832GeneralElectioninEdinburghremainandarehousedintheNationalLibraryofScotland.Althoughthisbroadsidesongdoesnotdirectly referencereform,itisindirectlyconnectedtotheagitationasmostreformagitatorscontinuedtobackthe Whigs or the Radicals in elections after the Reform Bill was passed, and remainedsuspiciousoftheTories.Inthispoem,thespeakerencouragesthereadertovoteforbothoftheWhigcandidatesforthetwoEdinburghseats:JamesAbercrombyandFrancisJeffrey,whowere both prominent reformers in Edinburgh.Jeffrey in particularly is praised for helpingdefendEdinburghresidentsfrom‘Londoners’.Thespeakeralsoinstructsreadersto'bewareoflies'andtostrikedown'everyTory'.Nopublicationdetailsareprintedonthisbroadside,butthereisahandwrittennoteatthebottomoftheNationalLibraryofScotlandcopy,'13July1832',whichmayindicateapublicationdate.

MichaelShawTUNE—Abeggingwewillgo.Iamafreeman,tightandsound,

OfEdinbro'sgoodtown,Fortradeandladsofhonestheart,

Aplaceofhighrenown.

Andavotingwewillgo,willgo,Andavotingwewillgo.

TwoMembersfortheParliament

Wesuddenlymustchoose;Goodmenandtruetakecaretheybe,

Whowon'ttheirtrustabuse.Ourvotestheoldonesaskagain,

InParliamentwelltry'd,Buttheablestmerchantsofthetown

Won'tvoteupontheirside.Theirindependenttradesmentoo

Areheartyintheircause;Gladtosupportthemenwhoguard

Theirlibertiesandlaws.They'veserveduswellintimesofpeace.

Andserveduswellinwar;TheyloveaSailorintheirhearts,

Norhatethesmelloftar.

Butthere'sJamieAbercrombie,lads,

Atown's-bredbird,Iswear,Whotoyourcauseandintereststrue,

Nopaindideverspare.Andnextthere'sFrancisJeffrey,

WasbredaLawyerhere,Andfightsforyou'gainstLondoners

Withoutdismayorfear.Theyknowwhatcargoesare,andhow

Ourbarksmayfindemploy,Andwhenwethrivethemostintrade,

Theyfeelthehighestjoy.IftheseourMembersbe,mylads,

Ourcannonsloudshallroar,Andopentradebecarriedon

O'eralltheIndianshore.Thenhonestlads,bewareoflies,

Believenoidlestory,Butstrikeatonceforfreedom'cause

AnddownwitheveryTory.Andavoting,&c. C.M'K.

18. TheDevil'sWalk.TheDevilisaprominentfigureinseveralreformandanti-reformpoemsofthe1830s.Unlike‘TheWhigs’SupplicationtoApollo’,thispoempresentsSatanasanallyoftheTories.‘TheDevil’sWalk’appearsinTheAetherialRecord,whichwasasatiricalAyrshiremagazineeditedby‘Prospero’,anelusivefigurewhohasbeenidentifiedastheradicalsurgeonandChartistDr JohnTaylor, although this attributionhasnot been corroborated. Taylor stood for theAyrshireBurghsseat in1832andfamouslychallengedhisopponentThomasKennedytoaduel.ThispoeminvokesTaylor:thespeakercomparestheappearanceofawell-dressedSatanto'doctorJohn',amarkofjusthowtongue-in-cheekthispoemis.WearetoldthatSatan'sclosestfriendsaretheTories,aswellas'thegeneralelection'asawhole.Inthepoem,Satanjourneysto'Cloud'(Ayr)whereheexpresseshisconcernthattheToriesarebeingconvertedbyan 'angryband/Of sageReformer's [sic]'.Nick thengoesaroundvarious local figures,includingWilliamBlair,aformerMP,andgivesthemgoodwishesandsaysthattheyshouldnot'fearReformersnow'.Satanthensaystheymustallvoteforhimand'therottenside'–the rotten burghswhichwere a primary target of reformers. The Paisley-born poet JohnMitchelltakesupthisassociationoftheDevilwiththeanti-reformcauseinhispoemNick'sTour(1846),inwhichtheDevilcomestoScotlandandsideswiththeanti-Chartists.

MichaelShaw

TheDevillosthisappetite,Heknewnotwhattodo,

Hisgoodwarmhomeseemeddesolate—Eachlittleimplookedblue.

ButHope,kindgoddess,seeinghim,Tookpityonhisplight,

Anddeignedtoshedamidtheshades,Apassingrayoflight.

OldNickhewhiskedhisdroopingtail—Thefirehestirredanew,

"AndGad!"criedhe,"I'lluptoearthAndmygoodsubjectsview."

Hedonnedhiscoatofblackestdye,Hisshovelhatputon,

Andbushywhiskersbrushingup,LookedjustlikedoctorJohn.

CommandingthenalittleimpTofetchhiswalkingstick—

Helookedamongthemapsofearth,Apleasantroadtopick.

OhCloud,saidhe,'sthetownforme—Fortherewithoutaboast,

Ieverhave,andthinkIshallForeverruletheroast.

AndnowIseemyToryfriends,Thestaunchestandthebest,

Areyielding,byanangrybandOfsageReformer'spressed.

Hehiedhimupthesteepascent,Andcomingtothelight—

Beheld(intruthitmadehimstare)Awondrousprettysight,

Hisbeardhestroked,andwinking,said,I'vemadeawiseselection;

I'mjustintimetoseemyfriend,Thegeneralelection.

Hebowedtoallthemotleygroup—AnarmtookoftheMajor;

Andsaid,DearN—l,pointoutthefolks,Forhereyou'reanoldstager.

ButscarcelyIyouraidrequire,SomanyfriendsIsee;

Oh,Clapper,fondaseverladOfmakingpoetry?

YouknowthesongyouwroteuponThekitteninthewell;

Endingsopathetic'ly,Inding,dong,bell.

AnddoesthemuseasfondlysmileAsinyouryoungerdays;

OrhasshefickleceasedtodeckYourtempleswiththebays?

Isawyoursubstitutegoby—Aworthyfriendofmine;

Ordainedbynaturecertainly,OnJudge'sbenchtoshine.

Beforehimshouldyouseekredress,Justtakeafriend'sadvice—

PresenthimsomethingthatisquiteScarce,eatableandnice.

Butifthemanopposingyou,Hisfailingtooshouldtwig,

Andwhenyousendaplumbpudding,Presentasuckingpig,

He'llbeatyoutoacertainty,Thoughjustareyourpretensions;

HisjusticekeepscompanionshipWiththeeatable'sdimensions.

He'slookingpaleandhungrytoo;'Tisaneofhisauldfreaks,

Expectingatuckinto-day—He'seatennoughtforweeks.

Butgoodbye,Clapper,Ishouldbe

Intruthaverybrute,DidIneglectmyfemalefriends,WhomImustnowsalute.

HepattedMrsLofty'sback,Andthusaddressedthedame:—

Continuelifeasyoubegan,Andspoilyourneighbour'sfame;

IfanyMisstooprettyis,Surmisethatyouhaveseen

Herfrolicwithahandsomelad,Wheresheshouldnothavebeen.

HekissedthebuxomMrsB—,Thewidowladyspunky;

AdvisingthefatdevoteeTokeepahandsomeflunky.

Damenaturestillwillhaveherway,Despisingallcontroul;

*'Tisbutthefleshthatgoesastray,Thebody,notthesoul.

HegaveSirHurterBearasmile,AndgrinnedatGibbytoo;

ButheshookOldBillybythehand,Hisstaunchestfriendandtrue;

GoonnorfearReformersnow,Theirshockyoumustabide—

Andvoteasyouhaveeverdone,Formeandtherottenside.

Andyoushallhaveabirthbelow,AshotasHellcanmakeit;

Bethirstyasyou'veeverbeen,Withdamnthedroptoslakeit.

I'mgladtohearourfriendsaretrue—Iseetheymusterstrong;

ButIfearReforminHelljustnow,SoI'llcallforthemerelong.

TheDevilthusproceededon,Discantingashewent—

Almostasgarrulous,infact,AsparsonsareinLent.

Butsuddenly,withhairerectAnddroopingtail,hehied

Asquicklyoffashecouldrun,Iknownotwhathespied.

Icertainlycouldnoughtbehold,Butalittlewomancome,

With(if'twasallherproperty)Amostenormousbum.

OldBullyBlustersaysheraisedHissticktomakehimfly;

This,Iandotherpeoplethink,Uponmysoul—alie.

Goodpeopleall,ofeverysort,Unlessyouthinkthere'sharmin

Myfirst,whennextOldNickcomesback,You'llhaveasecondCarmen.

*WepresumethisisadoctrineoftheDevil's.TheAetherialRecord,1832.

19. Reformers'ElectionSong,—ByWilliamJohnston.This poem appears on one of the few election broadsides that have been preserved inGlasgow. It appears to have been part of a larger broadside, but only this cuttingremains.Althoughthebroadsideisnotdated,thepoemcanbereasonablyattributedto1837asitconcernsthe1837election.In1837,JamesOswald–avocalcampaignerforthe1832ReformActs–stooddownandtherewasanelection.ThepoemcommendsOswald'sworkandadvisesvoters to selectanMPwhocancontinue the reformers' cause.Thepreferredrepresentative, according to the poem, isJohn Dennistoun,the Liberalcandidate, overRobertMonteiththeTory.Asinseveralotherreformpoems,thespiritofWilliamWallaceisinvokedheretoalignScottishnationalidentityanddefencewiththecauseofreform.

MichaelShaw

MrOswaldnowwefind,thathisseathehasresign'dReformerstheirlosstheymaydeplore;

Ourcausehedidmaintain,butinParliamentagainOurPatriothe'llneversitmore.

ForGlasgowcityhenowhasleftavacancy,Soreformersfindoneinhisplace;

Thatwillyourrightsmaintain,ifyoudon'tI'llyouplain,ThatyourgreatMetropolisyouwilldisgrace.

Tothepoll,tothepoll,nowreformerseverysoul,Allthathaegotavoteinthetown;

MrDenniston'sthemanelecthimnowifyoucan,ButyoungMenteiththetorykeepdown.

Pollaway,pollaway,keepthattoryoutIsay,Who'splanistokeepyouinthrall;

OneofthatnameIsay,thebraveWallacedidbetray,KeephimoutandyourfameI'llextoll.

Toyourpost,toyourpost,fortheToriestheydoboast,Oftheirwealthandgreatstrengthinthistown;

Nowisthedaynowthehouryouhaveitinyourpower,Tounitenowandkeepthemalldown.

Keepthemdown,keepthemdown,letthemseeinGlasgowtown,Thatyourrightsyouwillmanfullymaintain,

Givetonomanaseatbutaliberalcandidate,Thenapplauseforyoursel'syouwillgain.

MrDennistounwilldoallhe'spromisedforyou;NowReformerswhatdoyouwantmore?

InParliamenthewillallhispledgestherefulfil,

AsyourChampionbraveOswalddidbefore.Tothepoll,tothepoll,GlasgowvoterseverysoulYouhavenownotimetodelay;

Turnoutnowtoaman,musterallthevotesyoucan,LetthemsaythatDennistonhaswontheday.

J.MUIR,Printer.

PartTwo:PoemsrelatingtotheRepresentationofthePeopleActs,1867-8

20. TheGlesca'Carter.ThissongisbyJamesHouston(born1828),awell-knownmusic-hallperformer.Anengineerbyprofession,duringthe1860shewasworkinginengineeringfirmsbydayandperformingatnight.Thereisalivelyandentertainingaccountofhislifeandmusic-halladventuresinAutobiographyofMrJamesHouston,ScotchComedian(Glasgow:JohnMenzies,1889).‘TheGlesca’Carter’,publishedwithotherpoemsandsongsattheendoftheAutobiography,definitelyrelatestothesecondReformBillof1867,andprobablyspecificallytotheOctober1866ReformdemonstrationatwhichJohnBright,radicalpoliticianandheroofreformers,addressedalargeGlasgowmeeting.Thissongalsofallsintoapopular1860smusic-hallgenreof‘sensationsongs’.Thesetendedtoreferencetheperceivedsensationalismofthe1860sandfeatureahaplesscharacterwhonarratestheirinvolvementindramaticandentertainingevents.Theperformerwouldbreakinto‘sensational’dancestyles(‘jumping’songswerealsopopular)onthechorus:presumablyHoustondidacomicimitationofdrivingacartinthisone.Notuneisgiven,buttheversesareinastandardpatternandwouldhavebeensungtoaknowntune.

Carters,asaprofession,werestereotypicallyknownforsupportingreform,soitisnotsurprisingthatJockstandsupforhisrightsagainstthearistocracyandgivesapoliticalspeechatGlasgowGreen.But,eveninthesecomicverses,itshowsushowGlasgowworking-classmenwererepresentedasstronglypro-reform.Italsoshowsusthattherewasnoseparationbetweenthecomicandthepoliticalonthemusic-hallstage.Houstonandhisaudienceofpredominatelyworking-classmenandwomenwouldhavesupportedreformalso,buttheycouldalsogentlymockthestereotypeofthezealousreformer.ThesongseguedintoalengthysectionofcomicScotsprose,notreproducedhere.

KirstieBlairThefolkarea'gaunroarin'madTaehearsomenewsensation,

SaeImauntrywhatIcanaddTaemeetyourexpectation.

I'marattlin'carterchap,Atdrivin'I'masmerter;

Infact,I'lltellyeinaword,I'mJocktheGlesca'carter.

Geewhoo,hip,an'geeback,Hipan'geeback,whoavain,sir;

I'maGlesca'carterchap,JackThomsonismyname,sir.

Iwasdrivin'acrossthebrigtheday,Myhorsehadjustgotonit,

Whenaswellbegantaetak'hisnapAffmyKilmarnockbonnet;

Idrewmywhipacrosshislegs,Byjinghedidbutstart,sir;

SaysI,thebonnetan'whip,yesee,

BelangstaeJockthecarter.InGlesca'Greentheitherday,Atthegreatdemonstration,

Mr.BrightwasfairlyintheshadeWhenIgiedmyoration;

Forspoutin'aboutpolitics,Iha'egottheart,sir;

Solistenan'ye'llhearaspeech,FraeJocktheGlesca'carter.

AutobiographyofMr.JamesHouston,ScotchComedian(Glasgow:MenziesandLove,1889),p.193.

21. Reform.ThispoemfirstappearedintheAirdrieAdvertiseron24November1866,nexttoaneditorialon‘TheNewReformBill’,soitformspartoftheScottishLiberalpress’ssupportforreformin1866-67.Likemostpro-reformpoemsofthisperiod,itpraisesradicalpro-reformMP,JohnBright. It alsomoves from the specific issue of reform to a broader denunciation of theprivilegesofrank,wealthandstation.‘D.T.,Hillend’wasafamiliarfigureinthenewspaperpoetry columns.Thomsonwasaworkingmanwho,by the late1860s,waskeeperof thereservoiratHillend. InModernScottishPoets vol.2 (Brechin:D.H.Edwards,1881,p.112),editorD.H.Edwardsciteshimasanovertlypoliticalandimplicitlyradicalpoet.‘Hetookgreatinterest in the political and social movements of his time, and gave expression to hissentimentswithavigouranddirectnesswhichleftnoroomformisunderstandingastotheleaningofhissympathies.’

KirstieBlair

Ihearthatmonsterfreedom'sfoe,BaseToryism,crying,

Thatithasgotafearfu'blow,An'thinksitsel'a-dying.

ForJohnnyBricht,wi'patriotmicht,Hasroonditfetterslocked,

An'wi'fairjustice,manhood'sricht,Hehasitmaistlychoked.

ButyetitsHeraldssoonditspraise,An'everyschemearetrying,

Taelengthenootthetyrant'sdays,A'puirmen'srichtsdenying.

SictoutingdoctorscannasaveAthingsaefoulan'tainted,

Forsoon'twillfillatraitor'sgrave,An'winnabelamented.

Thenmeritwillnotmeetwi'scorn,Orworthbeunrewarded;

Menwillbenoble,tho'low-born,An'rankbedisregarded.

Forsensemauntak'theplaceo'pride,An'walthalowerstation,

Whenhonestyflingsfraudaside,An'virtueguidesoornation.

Therichwillnotthepuirthenslicht,Justfortheveryreason,

Thatrichtwillstan'itsain'gainstmicht,An'nanedaurca'ittreason.

DavidThomson,MusingsAmongtheHeather(Edinburgh:ThomsonBrothers,1881),p.238.

22. OntheDeathofanOldReformer.David Carnegie was a factory worker and political and social poet from Arbroath, whopublishedprimarilyinthelocalandDundeepress.Thepersonlamentedherehasnotbeenidentified,butthepoemservesasanimportantelegyforanolderreformer,activein1830sradicalism and Chartism, by a younger and more moderate reformer of the 1860s. ThegloriousdaythatWilliamlivedtoseeislikelythatoftheSecondReformActin1867,sothepoemagainreflectsupontherelationshipbetweenthe1830sandthe1860s.

KirstieBlairTO-DAY,oldfriend!thylifelessformWaslaidintoitslast,lonebed,

And,standingbythyopengrave,Ithoughtuponapromisemade—

Apromisemadelongyearsago—ThatifIlived,andhadtheskill,

Myhumblemuseshouldsingthydirge.I'lltrythatpromisetofulfil:

Farewell,oldWilliam,fare-thee-well!Thyringingvoicenomorewe'llhear,

ProclaimingallthebitterwrongsWhichtyrantwealthmakeslabourbear.

Thouwertahater,fierceandkeen,Ofallwhodurstoppressthepoor,

ThoughseatedonapurplethroneOrstruttingo'erafactoryfloor.

JusticeandRightthouboldlyclaimedAspartsofHeaven'seternallaws,

AnddeemedhimfoetoGodandmanWhotriedtostifleFreedom'scause.

ThePeople'sCharterthouespousedWithallapatriot'sfieryzeal,

Andlongthoutoil'dtowinthatpowerWhichallourwrongswouldsurelyheal.

Thouhastnotlivedtoseeitwon,Butthouhastlivedandseenthatday

Whenancientbarrierswerehewndown,Andoldtraditionsthrownaway.

WesometimesthoughttheetoosevereWhenWhigsandTorieswerethytheme,

Butwellweknewthouweresincere—Thyprinciplesnoboyishdream.

Andwhilstthytonguedenouncedthewrongs

Inflictedonthehelplesspoor,NowretchedwandererpledinvainWhomwantbroughttothyhumbledoor.

DavidCarnegie,LaysandLyricsfromtheFactory(Arbroath:ThomasBuncle,1879),p.59.

23. TheReformBillThispoemisembeddedinanadvertisementinapartofthenewspapernormallyconfinedtocommercialinterests.WilliamAnderson,astheadvertisementsuggests,wasawholesaleandretailteaandcoffeemerchant,withtwopremises.AccordingtothePostOfficeDirectoryforthistime,hehimselflivedat4AdelphiPlace.Thepoemischieflyofinterestasanexemplarof how deeply the reform agitation had penetrated popular culture and how one tradersought to take advantageof this. Thepoem itself is non-committal:why, after all,wouldAndersonwishtoalienatesupportfromeitherLiberalorTory?However,withGLADSTONEincapitalletters,Andersonisclearlyawarethatthenamewouldattractattention.(Thereareagoodnumberof‘Gladstone’poemsinthedatabase.)

CatrionaM.M.Macdonald

TEA!TEA!!TEA!!!

Throughouttheland'sfairlengthandbreadthHathbeenoflateastorm

Ofpoliticiansgreatandsmall,Inclamoursforreform;

Butwhen,uponthetwelfthofMarch,

Ananxiousdayformany,TheBill,solonglookedforwardto,

Hadscarceacharmforany.

AndwhilethisgreatimperfectschemeGLADSTONE'Sattentionfills,

ANDERSONwouldwhisperinyourear,Reformyourhouseholdbills.

HisistheBestTEAyoucanbuy,

AndCheapesttooaswell;Andthesearegenuinereforms,

Asyouwhobuywilltell.—

AGREATportionoftheFirstandFinestArrivalsofeachNewSeason'sTeasisconsignedtoW.ANDERSON;andinconsequenceoftheenormousSaleswhichhecaneffect,heisenabledtodisposeofthematPriceswhichdefycompetition.Thefollowing,amongothers,aretobehadatthePagodaEstablishments,116TRONGATE,and105DALMARNOCKROAD,GLASGOW:—GreenGunpowdertea,finest,.................................................3s8dperlb.GoodStrongBlackTea,............................................................1s6d"VeryFineSouchongTea,RichandWellFlavoured.................................................................................1s8d"PaisleyHerald,12May1866.

24. TheFranchiseO’Women–ASong‘TheFranchiseO’Women’waspublishedintheDundeeAdvertiser,adailynewspaperwhoseeditorialpositionwaspro-reformandwhichgenerallyattractedaleft-wingorradical-leaningaudience.Asthispoemdemonstrates,thisalignmentdidnotalwaystranslatetoallareasoftheirpolitics.TheanonymouspoetcountersJohnStuartMill’ssupportofwomen’srightswithanargumentbasedontheexistenceofa ‘natural’ familystructure,astructurewhichmayhaveseemedtotheauthortobeincreasinglyunderthreatasthenumberofmarriedwomenin full-timeemployment increased inDundee.Fewpoems ingenuinesupportofwomen’ssuffragemade it into the nineteenth-century Dundee newspapers, though the issue wasevidently discussed outside of the press. For example, female workers carried a bannerdemandingwomen’ssuffrageatthe1867reformdemonstration.

ErinFarley

Theordero’Naturehasmadeitsel’plainThatwivesshouldbesubject,notslaves,totheirmen.Thatfamilyfranchise,wi’uniono’will,Issafefraethelogico’JohnnieStewartMill.Thisfact,o’itsel’,shouldhislogicdestroy–Menfechtfortherichtsthattheirwomenenjoy;Ginlawbebutusage,andusagebelaw,Thefranchiseo’womenisnaneo’thetwa.Whaurmarriageissacredatweenmanan’wife,NaeCourto’Divorceneedst’partthemforstrife;Avotefraeawifeisavotefraeherman–Theirheartsareunited–theirtonguesareatone.Insteado’theuniono’titlesandlands,Letheartsbeunitedonjoinin’ohands:Thefirst’sthedisease,an’thesecond’sthecure–Thehamewillbehappy,theStatemairsecure.Reformi’ourhames,an’ourpersonssedate,Willhusha’theclamourso’Churchan’o’State;Whenwomenaremithers,an’fathersaremen,Thepracticeolifewillitstheoriesrestrain.Theoutcomeo’virtueismadet’dependOnthemeansuse’dathametoleadtoitsend;LethamebeheldsacredasNature’sainschool,An’asophistlikeMillbesetdownasafool.

X.DundeeAdvertiser,5January1867.

25. Reform!ThisversewasperformedbyFrankHilloftheTheatreRoyal,Aberdeen,atthelocalbranchmeetingoftheNationalReformLeague.Describedas'astumpspeechafterthemannerofmusichallorators,'Hillappearedonstage ‘inthecharacterofMinerva’ontheeveningofSaturday26October1867.AreportontheeveningappearedintheDundeeAdvertiserthefollowingTuesday,whichnotedthatthecrowdwasnotlarge,butwascomposedmainlyofyoung people, including severalwomen. TheMr Shearer addressed in the versewas theAberdeen Branch president. This verse was not written to directly advance the cause ofreform itself. Rather, itwas part of the social culture of the reformmovement, andwasintendedforanaudienceofcampaigners.Assuch,itislessofapolemicandmoreofalight-heartedsatireonthepoliticalsceneinBritainandinAberdeenitself,mixingreferencestolocaldevelopmentsconcerningtheharbourwithreferencestonationalnews, likeThomasCarlyle’santi-householdsuffrageessay‘ShootingNiagara,’publishedearlierthatyear.

ErinFarley

Reform!Soul-stirringsound.Oldthingsarebecomenew,andnewthingsarebecomeremarkable–very!IsnotthewarcryofGaribaldiechoingoverthefairlandofItaly?DothnottheToriesofEdinburgheatleekswithDisraeliinthebanquetinghallsofAuldReekie?HathnotthesageofGreenwich–ThomasCarlyle–beenshootingNiagara;andwhyshouldn’tI–IshootNiagara–oranyotherman?Tellmethat!Ipauseforareply.Reform!Yes–Reformabroad,Reformathome–OnHighlandhill,andocean’sfoam;SendAbyssinia’scaptivesfree,LetFenianknavestheknaves’fatedree; dree-endureDownwitheachillstandsmenbetween,Upwiththeshout–LonglivetheQueen!Reform!Reform!Reform!Reform!TheoldFishMarket,nowatlengthremoved,TheHarbourentrance,too,muststraightwaybeimproved;RightfromthissheettoTorry’sMountainridge,Yousoonshalltreadasafeinvitingbridge–Thenceshallwecrossall–alluntolledandfree,AndwatchthelittlefishessportingintheDee!Reform!Myfriends,there’snothingcanbesurer,clearer,Reform’sembodiedhereinMrShearer.DundeeAdvertiser,29October1867.

26. ANon-Elector'sSoliloquy.Thispoem,exploitingHamlet’sfamoussoliloquy,waspublishedinTheEclipse–oneofthreejournalsthatshapedthe1868generalelectioninPaisley.Whiletheothertwowereverymuchalignedtoparticularpartyinterests(TheHoo’let(Tory)andTheHawk(Liberal)),TheEclipsesoughttolampoonallvestedinterestsinthecontest,andfrequentlyusedthecharacterofthejestertoemphasiseitsplayfulandsatirical intent.Herethedilemmaofthosedecidingwhethertovote,ratherthanforwhomtovote,isthefocusandrelatestotherelationshipbetween the compilation of the voting register, the payment of local rates and thequalificationsforthefranchise.Thisrelationshiphadattractedagreatdealof interestanddebateduringthedeliberationsinparliament.Forfurtherinsight,seeRobertSaunders,‘ThePoliticsofReformandtheMakingof theSecondReformAct,1848-1867’ inTheHistoricalJournal,50,3(2007),pp.571-591.Insimpleterms,itmeantthatmanyhadtoweighupwhatthevotemeanttothemfinancially,asitcameatacost:onehadtohavebeenassessedandpaidlocaltaxes.

CatrionaM.M.MacdonaldTovoteornottovote!thatisthequestion:Whether'tisnoblerinanon,tosufferThesneersandlaughteroftheupperten,Ortotakearmsagainstthearistocracy,Andbyhisclamourfrightthem?Tovote,tovote—That'sall:and,byourvotes,tosayweendOuranger,andthethousandnaturalthoughtsThatnonsareheirsto—'tisaconsummationDevoutlytobewished.Tovote—eh,what?—Tovote!butfirsttopay:aye,there'stherub;Forwhenwepayourrates,whatmoremaycome,Whenthatcollectorhauntsupourarrears,Mustgiveuspause;there'sthedirethought,Thatmakesusstilldisliketovote.Forwhowouldbearourstateforanytime,ATreasurer'sgab,aCouncillor'scontempt,Thesilenceofourmember,andthespurnsThatbrainsandlabourofsomebigweantake,Whenhehimselfmighteas'lygetavoteByamerepayment.Whowouldsuchtormentbear,Toliveawearynon-elector'slife,Butthatthedreadofthatcollector'sbook,Thegreatandfearfulvolume,onwhoseleavesOurmoney'snevermarked,puzzlesthewill,Andmakesusratherbearthoseillswehave,Thanpayuprates,whosesumweknownotof?TheEclipse,14November1868,p.7.

27. AVeteranTory'sLament.JohnRamsay,borninKilmarnockin1802,wasacarpet-weaverandeventuallyspirit-dealer:hestates intheprefacetoGleaningsof theGloamin’ thathefirstbeganpublishing intheEdinburgh Literary Journal, and that he had notable success with an earlier volume(WoodnotesofaWanderer).His life isbrieflydiscussed inD.H.Edwards,ModernScottishPoets,vol3(Brechin:D.H.Edwards,1881,pp.270-1).Theelectionsof1868werethefirstheldaftertheSecondReformAct.Thepoemmost likelyreferencesBallochmylebecauseClaudAlexanderofBallochmylewasthelosingTorycandidateinthe1868electioninSouthAyrshire.ThenewconstituencyofNorthAyrshirehadalsonarrowlyelectedaLiberalcandidate,hence‘We’revanquishednorth,we’revanquishedsouth’.Ballochmylewas,moreover,likelytobeknowntoreadersfromBurns’ssong‘TheLassO’Ballochmyle’.Ramsay’sversesfitthesongtunetosomedegree,thoughthesubject-matterisverydifferent.Thispoemisadevil’sor‘deil’s’lament,notanuncommongenreforsatiricalverseintheperiod.‘TheDeil’sReplytoRobertBurns’,attributedbysometoBurnshimself,wasoneexamplecirculatinginvariousformsinthemid-Victorianperiod.Ramsay’sTorySatannostalgicallyreferencesanumberofhighly controversial political and religious events from the 1830s onwards, including theRathcormacMassacre inCork in1843,whensoldiersenforcingthecollectionofChurchofIrelandtitheskilledanumberofprotestingCatholiclocals,andtheCornLaws.ThereferencetofloggingisspecificallytoAlexanderSomerville,asoldierwhosebrutalfloggingin1832waswidelyattributed tohis support forpro-Reformprotestors (thiscase is referenced in ‘TheFloggedSoldier’appearingearlierinthiscollection).‘AVeteranTory’sLament’thussuggeststhedirectcontinuityofToryoutragesfromthe1830stothe1860s,andimpliesthat1867mayhavemarkedamajorturningpoint.SincethereferencetoClaverhouseisprobablytoJohnGraham of Claverhouse, active in the seventeenth century and with a reputation forrepressionagainstCovenanters,thepoemalsoconnectsrecenthistorytoalongerScottishhistoryofaristocraticrule.

KirstieBlairOntheresultoftheelectionof1868.'TwassomewhereneartoBallochmyle,Thedeilwasmetgaundownabrae,

Andayehesadlysungthewhile,Alake!alake!we'velosttheday.

We'revanquishednorth,we'revanquishedsouth,Fora'thatIcoulddoorsay,

Bythatauldhatefu'limmerTruth,Alake!alake!we'velosttheday.

I'velaughedtheworkingfolktosee,Theirfacesgrimwi'wantandwae.

Whilemyfreenslivedinluxury,Butnow,alake!we'velosttheday.

I'velaughedtoseehislordship'sgame

Eatupthecrap,thefarmersentAdriftforkillinganeo'them,Androupitouttopaytherent.

I'velaughedtoseeamanstrungupForwritingo'anither'sname,

Ormaybestealingo'atup,Orbreadtofillahungrywame.

I'velaughedtoseepuirPapistPatBeneaththeKirko'Englandgrane,

Itser'dmycausefarbetterthat,ThaneitherHume,Voltaire,orPaine.

ToseefromshriekingmiserytornThetithe,atpointofbayonet,

Rathcormackmademecockmyhorn,Thatscene,oh!howcanIforget?

AndIhavesatunseenincourt,Andchuckledwithinfernalglee,

Toseetheirdernierressort,Thevoterscoinedbyperjury.*

Aflunkieswearhimsel'alaird,Thathadnagotasinglestane,

Noryeto'mitheryirthayard,Orcoatthathecouldca'hisain.

Meantimethetitledinstigator,†Tothatmostsapientsuckingpigeon,

Thepublic,playedthedemonstratorOnethics,politics,religion.

ButwhatmetickledbestavaWasthatmostglorioustaxonbread;

Itmadethepuirman'scakesaesma'Andtrippeduptheheelsoftrade.

AndO!howrichitwastostandRed,reekingheapso'carnageo'er,

Andseetheconqueror'sruthlessbandRidefetlock-deepinhumangore!

Andthentoseethesoldierbrave,Fora'hisbattles,marches,drills,

Tieduplikesomepuirrecreantslave,

Andfloggedtillbloodrano'erhisheels.Thosewerethedays,thegloriousdays,Whenstatesman,courtier,king,andpriest,

Couldridethenationtheirownways,Likesomegreatstupid,patientbeast.

ConfoundtheLiberals,aneanda',Weretheybutpinionedneckandheel,

Andintomyaintortureha',Mycerty!Iwouldmak'themsqueal.WouldClaverhouseagaincomeback,I’dhuntthema’o’erbankandbrae;Butthatisnowafecklesscrack,Alake!alake!we’velosttheday.Whatmairhesaid,orwherehegaed,Mydouceinformantdidnasay,Butuptheglenlangcamethemane,Alake!alake!we’velosttheday.

*Duringtheelectionof1841weweresojourninginacountytownontheBorder,wherethiswascarriedontoamostscandalousextent.Itwasquitepatenttothepublic,andmusthavehadadeterioratinginfluence.Themajorityofthepartieswhohadthusperjuredthemselveswenthomeintoxicated.Ifthesemenafterwardsacteddishonestlybytheiremployers,itwasonlyanatural,andIshouldalmostsayanecessaryconsequence.†AScotchConservativenobleman,whowasoncedeliveringalectureinaMechanics'InstituteintheWest,stronglyrecommendedreligiontothepeople;hewasatthatperiodoneoftheleadingmagnatesoftheTurf,andbutashorttimeprevioushadspenttheSabbathincurlingonapondinfrontofhisowncastle.JohnRamsay(1802–1879),GleaningsoftheGloamin'(London:J.andW.Rider,1870),pp.50-53.

28. TheBattleoftheKilmarnockBurghs.ThegeneralelectionwhichfollowedthepassageoftheSecondReformActprovidedagreatdealoffodderforpoetryintheKilmarnockBurghsconstituency.TheincumbentLiberalMP,Edward Pleydell-Bouverie (1818–1889), a son of the Earl of Radnor, had represented theburghsforalmosttwenty-fiveyears,butin1868asubsetofthelocalelectorsweresufficientlydissatisfiedwithhismoderatestanceonreformandhispoorrelationshipwiththeLiberalleaderWilliamEwartGladstonetoinvitean'AdvancedLiberal'tochallengehim.ThisoutsiderwasEdwinChadwick(1800–1890),asocialreformerwhohadthebackingofJohnStuartMill,whichservedtogivethecontestanationalprofile.BouveriewrotetoMillreproachinghimfor his divisiveness, to which Mill responded: 'it is very much to be desired that everyconstituencyshouldconsider,notmerelywhetheramanwilldotorepresentit,butwhetherhe is the best man to be had'. Bouverie took exception to this and published thecorrespondenceintheTimes;itwasthenreprintedintheAyrshirepapers(seeAyrAdvertiseron22October1868).However,Chadwickwasnottheonlyonetothrowhishatintothering:hewasjoinedbyAlexanderMacdonald(1821–1881),thepresidentoftheMiners'NationalAssociation and a future Lib-Lab MP, and Robert Thomson, an independent with anidiosyncraticplatformthatcentredaroundlanddistribution.NoTorystoodforelection. ThisatypicalsetofcandidateswasafertilesourceofinspirationforcontributorstotheKilmarnockStandard,whoallmaintainedthenewspaper'sestablishmentLiberalstancebyportraying Bouverie's rivals as inherently comic figures: Chadwick as an elderly boffin,MacdonaldasatroglodyticopportunistandThomsonasaharebrainedeccentric.'TheBattleof the Kilmarnock Burghs' was published a few days before the election but accuratelypredictstheoutcome:thecandidates,imaginedhereasknightsatajoust,arevanquishedinthesameorderinwhichtheyfinishedinthepolls,andeachmeetshisdemiseinamannerthatlinesupwiththecharactertraitsthathavebeensatirisedinthepaper'spoetrycolumnforweeksleadinguptotheelection.Thepoemistypicalinitstreatmentofthecontestasaburlesquewitha foregoneconclusion; themore left-leaningcandidateswillplayout theirpartsbutvoterswillultimatelycometotheirsensesandremainfaithful(marriagemetaphorsabound). The Kilmarnock Standard poets are concerned to recuperate the moderateBouverie,representativeofthestatusquo,asafightertowhomtherecentlyenfranchisedshouldbegratefulfortheirgoodfortune.

HonorRieleyIsingofabattle,ofbattlesthebestAlloverbroadScotland,atleastintheWest;AbattlestirredupbythenewReformBill,Abattlefoughtoutwithbothvigourandskill.OldRussellmayboastofReformNumberOne,ForProgressadvancedlikeaspringmorningsun,Andstruggled,whilemistsnearlyhidherfromview,TillsheburstforthuncloudedwithBillNumberTwo.OldpoetshavesungandoldchroniclerstellHowourboroughstoToriesandRadicalsfell,Butrentbydivisionandfactioncomplete,

'Twashardtotellwhowassecureinhisseat—TillBouverie,thesonofaLiberallord,ForLiberalprinciplesunsheathedhissword;Thoughcalumnyoftmightmakefreewithhisname,Yetstillhepreservedalluntarnishedhisfame.ThusBouverievictoriousthetrophyhasgained,Andfortwenty-fiveyearsinhiskeepingremained,Tillthreerivalfoemennowcometocompete,Andhavesworntoundohim—adifficultfeat.Thesethreewrathfulfighters,withheartsbigwithfate,NowoffertotinkerourkettleofState;AndchampionMac.stumpsontothefield,And,withagreatpickaxe,hethundersout"yield.""BytheshadeofgreatPalmerston,"Bouveriecries,"BeforeIsurrendertheseboroughsIprize,I'llappealtothevoters,theold,andthenew,WhowouldstillbeunfranchisedhadInotprovedtrue."ThenChadwick,theMillite,nospeechwouldpretend,Butstatistics,hesaid,hecouldplywithoutend,Andcertificatestoo;sowithgreatgreedyeyes,Likeacatatamouse,hewouldthusseizetheprize.ThenRobinstalkedforward,allburlyandstrong,Encasedingreatspeeches,atleastthreehourslong;Heshowedhowallotherswouldfadeandgrowdim—Allopponentswouldsink,andgreatRobinwouldswim.TotheboroughsofKilliethesespoutersrepair,TheseboroughslongtendedwithBouverie'scare,Andmeetingswereheld,withprofessionssoqueer,Thatsimpleonesthoughtthemilleniumwasnear.Abardwasselected,towitnessthefun,Andtellthegreatdeedsthattheheroeshaddone;Thusaterribletaskhasthebardoftheday,ForEuropelooksonatthelaughablefray.Nowspeechesasthickasgrapeshotinabattle,Amongtheconstituentsfuriousrattle;Eachvowedhewouldgainthetoprungoftheladder,Andmadeanoiseloudashardpeasinabladder.

Applausefromthemobmadethecandidatessplore,Nomeetingsereheardsucha"promising"core,Foreachofthethreetoldtheglorioustale,Thatwhenhegotinhe'dreformthemwholesale.Sixspeechesapieceworethetimewellaway,WhenM'Ronaldsworeloudhewouldfinishthefray,Heflourishedhispick-axe,butOh!sadtotell,Acoalpitwasnear,anddownheadlonghefell.ThenRobin,thegallant,foughthardtotheend,Butwhocanwithclearheadedvoterscontend?Andweariedwithspeaking,thebigheartedsoul,Waskilledlikeanoxbyastrokewiththepoll.ThenChadwickroseupallsocautiousandsage,Andsaidhe'dcontinuethewarfaretowage,HewouldpileupBlueBooks!butthelastonestookfire,Whichprovedthisoldgentleman'sfuneralpyre.Thenuprosethebard,withgreatwisdominspired.Andgaveinhisverdictconfoundedlytired;"Theseboroughscanneverbecapturedbyforce,"Andarenotsoinsaneastosuefordivorce."Theseliberalboroughsareliberalstill,AndBouverie'sthemanwhohadworkedwithawill;Hehasfoughtforuslong—foughtfaithfulandwell,Sohisbetheboroughs,andminebe—farewell. C.K.KilmarnockStandard,14November1868.

PartThree:PoemsrelatingtotheRepresentationofthePeopleAct,1884

29. GrannieBlack.ThemostfeaturedindividualinthePeople'sVoicedatabaseisWilliamEwartGladstone.Whilepoemsfrom1832and1867referencenumerouspublicfigures,withWilliamIV,EarlGrey,HenryBrougham,theDukeofWellingtonandLordRussellappearingparticularlyfrequently,nosinglepersondominatesthepoeticlandscapetothedegreethatGladstonedoesin1884.Pro-reformsentimentisoftenexpressedintermsofpersonalaffectionfor,andtrustin,the'GrandOldMan'whowoulddefendtheinterestsofworkingpeople.Pro-GladstoneversesappearedonbannersatreformdemonstrationsalloverScotland,andpoetsanticipatedandcommemoratedhisvisitstoScottishconstituencies:'He'sComing,Midlothian'wasreprintedinlocalnewspapersacrossthecountry,and'APoeticalAddresstothePremier'waspresentedtoGladstoneinpersonattheLaurencekirkrailwaystationinAberdeenshire. IntheGlasgowWeeklyMailfor22March1884,'GrannieBlack'appearsdirectlybelow'WilliamEwartGladstone'byAlbertJames,asonnetwhichextolstheprimeminister'smeritsinthefloweriestterms,describinghimas'Theablest"force"atpresentontheearth,/Theforemostwonderofthecentury'.Althoughverydifferentinitslanguageandtone,'GrannieBlack'alsoenlargesonthe'winnerfu''qualitiesofGladstone–thoughthespeakershiftsherattentiontothistopicratherabruptlyafteropeningwithherobservationsonthedressanddeportmentofmoderngirls,andthenmovesequallyabruptlyfromGladstonehimselftothe'HighlandBrigade',aBritisharmyunitthatservedinEgyptandtheSudanfrom1882to1885.These seeminglydisconnected stanzas forman idiosyncratic 'stateof thenation' address,encompassing the local, the national, and the international, expressing pride in Scottishachievementsontheworldstageandconfidencein'bravehonestWillie'toguidethecountryintherightdirection.

HonorRieley

I'maplainspeakingrelicto'dearlangsyne,Quo'auldgrannieBlack—quo'she;

I'llayebestrechtfurritan'speakootmymin', strechtfurrit-straightforwardQuo'auldgrannieBlack—quo'she.

I'mno'aslyjaudwi'abutterymou'—Asleekitauldlimmerthatsayswhat'sno'true; sleekitauldlimmer–slyoldwomanI'mjistinthehumourtospeakmymin'noo,Quo'auldgrannieBlack—quo'she.

Thelassies,puirthings,garmeblushnoo-a-days,Quo'auldgrannieBlack—quo'she;

Themaisto'theirthocht'sabootfashionandclaes,Quo'auldgrannieBlack—quo'she.

They'reclippingtheirhairuncoshortnoo,Isee,An'"sport"jerryhats—sicasicht!dearieme, jerryhat–aroundfelthatThey'llwearmoleskinbreekslikethemalesinawee,Quo'auldgrannieBlack—quo'she.

ThePremierWullGladstone'sawinnerfu'man,Quo'auldgrannieBlack—quo'she;

Topleaseilkabodyhedoesa'hecan,

Quo'auldgrannieBlack—quo'she.Hisrivalsmayscheme,sneer,an'bletherawa',ItdoesnafashbravehonestWillieava,Heworksuncosairforthegudeo'usa',Quo'auldgrannieBlack—quo'she.

Ifeeluncoproodo'the"HighlandBrigade,"Quo'auldgrannieBlack—quo'she;

Oorbravekiltyladdiesareneverafraid,Quo'auldgrannieBlack—quo'she.

Ireado'theirdeeds,an'itbringstomymin',BraveWallace,KingBruce,an'thedayso'langsyne,Thefameo'dearScotiawillneverdecline,Quo'auldgrannieBlack—quo'she.

JOHNALEXANDER.

124KingStreet,Calton,Glasgow.GlasgowWeeklyMail,22March1884.

30. TheDeilandthePeers;or,TheBattleo'theFranchise.JohnMcLarenworkedintheprintingtradeinEdinburgh,andwasarelativelywell-knownlocalpoetwhosepoemsappeared in variousScottishnewspapers:he startedpublishing in thepapersatayoungage,hencehis ‘LaddieBard’pseudonym.His trade is referenced in theopening lines,which incorporate a punon ‘printers’ devils’, the young apprentices in thetrade. This poem is an immediate response to the rejectionof theRepresentationof thePeopleBillbytheHouseofLordson8July1884,theTuesdaybeforethedemonstrationcitedintheheadnotetothepoem.Like‘AVeteranTory’sLament’,thisisanother‘devil’slament’poem, and like the competition poems from theWest Lothian Courier, itwas not simplywrittenaboutbutdistributedatpro-ReformdemonstrationsbyMcLaren’stradesociety.Inthiscase,however,thedevilismoreambiguousthaninJohnRamsay’spoem.HeseemstohavebeenworkingwiththeToryLords,tryingtoconvincethemtosavethemselvesbypassingtheBill.Ashevanishes‘withagrin’,disgustedbytheiridiocy,theLordsarelefttotheirfate,which,intheseverses,istoberoundlydefeatedbyGladstone.TheConservativeLordCairnsandLordSalisburyhadbothopposedtheBillonthegroundsthattheywouldnotsupportreformwithoutredistributionofseats(theyeventuallydidgainthispoint).Interestingly,thedevilseemstosupportwomen’sfranchise.AnumberofLiberalMPshadurgedGladstonetoincludewomen’sfranchiseinthe1884bill,buthehadrefusedonthegroundsthatparliamentwouldnotpasssuchameasure.

KirstieBlairPrintedbytheEdinburghPressandMachineman'sSociety,anddistributedduringtheFranchisedemonstrationatEdinburghonSaturday,12thJuly,1884.

Tune—"Hey,JohnnyCope."

IntheProvinceo'Inkdom,theDeevilaedayCam'stappin'doonbychancewhaurhis"imps"linedtheway,Asheyelled—"Printthenews!—thatI'msicko'foulplay,AndhaveleftthePeersgirnin'thismornin'."

Chorus.

"SalisburyandhisganginahostilefitEttledmischief,Itrow,inanawfu'hit;But'TheGrandOldMan'willootwitthema'yet,Andgarthemwheelabootsomefinemornin'!"

"Oh!mycoal-blackhair,aincesaegawciean'braw,Isturned,lack-a-day!aswhiteasdrivensnaw,Wi'tryin'toconvincetheLordsintheirmadthraw—Theymaywaukenwithootcoronetssomemornin'!"

ThentheDeevilsatdoonatthedooro'StGiles,Andscartin'hispow,thatwasfu'o''cutewiles,Heroaredoot,"Theidiots!aftera'mytoils—They'llbeflungintheThamessomecauldmornin'!"

WespeiredhimginhethoughtthatEarlCairnswasnarichtIngie'in'wi'hismotionthenewFranchiseBilladicht?Quo'theDeil,I'vethatlooninmyclawsgeyanticht,AndI'llmak'hislegalsnootsqueelsomemornin'!"

"AlthoughIamtheDeil,I'vemairgumptionthanafewWhagetupontheirfeettoyatterlikethekangaroo!CanyewonnerIdesertedthemwhanearlygar'dmespueWi'theirsillylegislationinthemornin'?

"Thewomen,too,itseems,alack!arenotogetavote,Because'tissaidtheyhaenaesensewhawearthepetticoat!Butwhato'themthatweartheBreeks,andyetthinknaethin'o't,Andread'theleadingarticles'ilkmornin'?"

ThensaidwetotheDeil,"Ginthemeasuredisnapass,Whatwadyegarusdae?""Oh,jistthreatenandharass,Thenletthepeoplerise,anda'bravelygangenmasseTotheemptyHooseo'Lordsinthemornin'!

"YourPremierhasbravedbeforethelegislativestorm,Andnooisanchoredsafewithintheoceano'Reform;AndsaeforyearstocometheLordswillfindtheirseatsarewarmFortheirtruculentaudacitythatmornin'!"

ThentheDeevilvanishedwi'agrin,andleftuswi'thePeers,Tobravetheproodusurpersanddespisea'cravenfears;Andmarchin'ontovictoryamidstexultin'cheers,WehailimmortalGladstoneonthismornin'!

J.W.M'Laren,Machineman(theLaddieBard).

WestLothianCourier,26July1884.

31. [Hail,Liberalsoneandall]In the autumn of 1884, theWest Lothian Courier held a competition for the best poem‘bearingontheBathgateFranchiseDemonstration,asrepresentingthevoiceandmindofallparties,fromthelabourerupwards.’Winnersnotonlyreceivedpublicationinthenewspaper,inspecialcolumnsof‘DemonstrationPoetry’on11October1884,butalsocouldseetheirpoemsbeingdistributedduringthedemonstrationitself.TheCourierdescribedhow,onitscartintheprocession(whichwasequippedwithaprintingpress)three‘printers’devils’were‘busyprintingwithalltherapidityofmodernmachinery,andcirculatingwithliberalhandstheCourierprizepoems,whichcontainedstaunchandtrueLiberalsentiments.’‘Hail,Liberalsoneandall’,asaprizewinner,wouldhavebeenamongthese.ThecompetitionenabledtheWestLothianCouriertoburnishitsLiberalcredentials,suppliedfreecopytodistributeandprint,andadvertisedtheextenttowhichthe‘people’spoets’oftheareabackedGladstoneandreform.

JamesWilsonofLinlithgowisunknownasapoet,buthispoemistypicalinitsanti-Torysentimentsandstirringcall foraunitedvoice fromthedisenfranchisedworkers.Thejudgesofthepoetrycompetitionalsodoubtlessadmiredhisemphasis,intheclosinglines,onthe importanceof thenewspaperpress and itswriters in swayingpopular sentiment.Hispoem and other competition poemswere published alongside a detailed account of theBathgatedemonstration.

KirstieBlair(AwardedSecondPrizeinCourier'sCompetition.)Hail,LiberalsoneandallRespondtoduty'scall,Triumphantlyweshall

Wintheday.Liftfreedom'sbannerhigh,Forvictoryisnigh;Liberty!shallbeourcry

Inthefray.InspiteofTorypeers,WiththeirhaughtyfloutsandjeersAndsentimentalsneers,

We'llunite;AndwithonevoicewewillAsloyalsubjectsstillDemandtheFranchiseBill

Asourright.Strong-handedsonsoftoilWhoseekyourdailymoilDeep,deepbeneaththesoil,

Beyebrave.Breaktheoppressor'sspell,

LetthevoiceoflabourswellO'ermountain,hill,anddell

Likeawave.AllwhothehammerwieldAndtillersinthefield,Yourbirthrightmustnotyield

Tothepeers;YeworkmenshowyourpowerInthisyourtryinghour,AsTorycloudsdolower

Fullofsneers.Castoffthefeudalyoke,LetjusticegivethestrokeToallourfoeswhomock

Atourcause.Aloudyourrightsproclaim,Andbreakthefeudalchain,Toolongablotandstain

Onourlaws.Revolutionwedon'twant,NorRedistributioncant,NorotherToryrant

Wedemand;TwomillionBritonswaitForrecognitioninthestate,Andwearyatthegate

Theydostand.Yeladswhowieldthepen,Come,quityourselflikemenThepeople'srightstogain

Anddefend.Up,lads,andshowyourmight,Andaidusinthefight,—Thepresswilldotheright

Tilltheend.LinlithgowBridge,Linlithgow. JAMESWILSON.WestLothianCourier,11October1884.

32. InvitationtotheBathgateDemonstration,October4,1884.

This poem, like ‘Hail, Liberals one and all’, appeared in theWest LothianCourier, aweekbeforethecompetitionpoemswerepublished(thus, justbeforeratherthanjustaftertheBathgatedemonstration). ‘Willie’andthe‘GrandOldMan’areWilliamGladstone,popularheroofthe1884ReformAct.InSeptemberandearlyOctober1884,bothGladstoneandthedeeplyconservativeandanti-reformLordSalisburyhadgivenspeechesinScotland.Indeed,Salisburyhadgivenaferventlyanti-reformspeechinGlasgowduringtheweekbeforethispoemappeared.ThepoemrepresentstheworkingpeopleofBathgateandsurroundingsasstaunchlyLiberalandwarnstheTories‘Tho’we’repoorwestudypolitics/Asbestwecan.’Itisarousingaccountfromanapparentworkingman’sperspective,endingwithatypicalpleatorememberthetriumphsof1832.‘W.A.’isunidentified.

KirstieBlairArise,auldBathgate,now'sthehourTosendthyLiberalsonswi'power,Intheirthousandsthreeorfower,Towavetheirmottoedbannersgran'

InfavouroftheFranchiseBillAndGrandOldMan.

Moveon,yeLiberals,aneanda',AndhelpauldWillieinthedrawAgainstthePeersthatcrouselycraw;Whene'erheseeksthepeople'sright,

Helphimtoknockthem'gainstthewa'Wi'a'yourmight.

TheToryPeerstooplainlyspeak;ThelasttimethattheHoosedidmeet,Theycastthebilldoonattheirfeet,Andthro'theywadnaletitgang;

ButWillieisgaunuptaebeatThema'erelang.

NeisttimehegangstaeLondontoonTheirTorypridehe'llhurl'tdoon,Andthenhe'llgarthemsitandcroonIndolefu'moodsomeithersang;

He'llmak'themruethecardthey'veplayed,Andthaterelang.

AndwhentheymeetI'llwadagroatHe'llsenditrightbackonthespot,Thatbillforwhichhe'strulyfought,AndaskthePeerstoletitpass;

Andiftheydon'the'llmowthemdownLikewitheredgrass.

He'llpeelthecoronetoffeachheid,AssureasFaitherAdam'sdeid;He'llmak'themskulkwi'eidentspeed,Forbyehe'llmak'themsairlyrue

Thewrongousevildeedthey'vedune,Thehaughtycrew.

DoSalisburyandhiscolleaguesthinkThatbrainsareboughtwi'gowdenclink,OrthatLiberalsa'areonthebrink,Oroverwhelmedinwildinsanity?

Na,na,mylord,ifthat'syourthought,It'sonlyvanity.

Wekentaeseekandha'eoorrightsInspiteofPeersandToryknights,OranyotherthatscornsandslightsTheBritishLiberalworkingman;

Tho'we'repoorwestudypoliticsAsbestwecan.

Nowbeup,yemen,befirmandtrue,RememberthemofThirty-two,Howthattheyfoughtandstruggledthro'Andgainedtheirrightsagainstoppression;

SothreecheersforWilliebraveandtrue—He'llwinnextsession.

W.A.WestLothianCourier,4October1884.

33. Reform:AWoman'sWork

JanetK.MuirwasaKilmarnock-basedpoetwhopublishedLyricsandPoemsofNatureandLife(Paisley,1878)andwasaregularcontributorofversetotheKilmarnockStandard,aswellastoThePresentTruth,theheraldoftheInternationalMissionarySociety.Thispoemfocusesontheroleofwomeninthe1884ReformBillagitationandhighlightshowtheseeminglysmallcontributions thatwomenmadewereneverthelesspartof the ‘vanguardofReform’.Thepoem depicts a woman twisting a ribbon, which will be worn by a reformer during aprocession. Each stanza beginswith the phrase ‘Only twisting a ribbon’ – suggesting theinsignificanceoftheactwhencomparedto‘thenobledeedsoftime’–butthisideaisthenrepeatedlysubverted.Thepoemdemonstrateshowsuchsmallacts,together,helpedfurtherthereformcause:itisarguedthatsuchworkwasneededtocreatethebannersforreformprocessions,forinstance.(Muirherselfworkedasamilliner.)Thepoemalsostatesthatthesewomenwillworkinhonourofthosewhofoughtfor‘fadelessThirty-Two’;itwascommonforthereformverseof1884tovalorisethe'veterans'ofthe1832ReformBill.

MichaelShaw"Whilesmakin'breist-knotsforabrither,Itwinemysangsandthemthegither."Onlytwistingaribbonaboutherfingersends;OnlydoingthelittletaskthatGodinHisgoodnesssends—Ataskthatwillne'erbenoted'mongthenobledeedsoftime,Forawoman'sworkisofsmallaccountinthisbusyBritishclime,Butthewomanworkswithawillinggrace,withheart-beattrueandwarm,AssheturnsthetinythingabouttothemeasureofReform.Onlytwistingaribbon!forthemenwho,byeandbye,Willwalkabroadwithasteadypace,withgladandsparklingeye—Withbannerswavingoverhead,withdrum-beatloudandclear,Forthefreedomoftwomillionsoulsdisenfranchisedfarandnear,Marchon!Marchon!withbannersbright,withribbonsgreenorgold,Andbeyourwatchword,"Manhood'sright,"thewar-cryofold.Onlytwistingaribboninalittlecountrytown,TogatherinagoodlyknotBritannia'sclustersbrown;Hersonsandsiresoflittlenote,tonobleLordsandbold,Whomindnotofthemightyhostthatvanquishedthemofold;Byallourfathersfoughtandwon,infadelessThirty-two,We'llrestnottilltheworkisdoneinFreedom'scauseanew.Onlytwistingaribbon!yethappilyforginganail,Forthedownfallofeachstubbornwrongwhenreasonshallprevail;Ah!thesmallestdeedmayhaveimportdeep,andweightyawoman'ssongAsshetwinesthetinythreadsaboutinthewebofrightandwrong,Contenttoseewithasecretgrace,throughtear-dropsstartingwarm,

HersilkensnoodbornonapaceinthevanguardofReform.JanetK.Muir,Kilmarnock,Sept.1884KilmarnockStandard,13September1884.

OntheFranchiseDemonstrationofthe6thInst.

ReplytoMarionBernsteinontheFranchiseDemonstrationofthe6thUlt.

AnswertoM.A.Smith.In this trio of poems, a debate plays out between two of theGlasgowWeekly Herald'sprominentfemalecontributors,MarionBernsteinandM.A.Smith.Bernstein(1846–1906)had been ardently advocating women's suffrage in the poetry columns of Glasgownewspaperssincethe1870s.Oneofherearlierworksinthisveinisanotherargumentinversewithafemalecounterpart:'Woman'sRightsandWrongs'(GlasgowWeeklyMail,27February1875) responds to Jessie Russell's 'Woman's Rights versus Woman'sWrongs', which hadappearedtheweekbefore.Russell'spoemrailsagainstthemistreatmentofwomenandthedevaluationoftheirlabour,butdoesnotviewaccesstothefranchiseasthemostrelevantsolution:'Imaybewronginopinion,butstilltomyminditseems/AsifParliament,CouncilorCongresscouldneverbewomanlythemes'.ForBernstein,thevoteisalwaystheanswer–assheputsitinherresponsetoRussell,'Letwomenvoteawaytheirwrongs/Andvoteforrighteouslaws.'Herpro-franchisepoemsinclude'Oh!IWishthatAllWomenHadPowertoVote(25April1874),'ADream'(10July1875)and'OnwardYet!UpwardYet!(16September1876),allfortheWeeklyMail,aswellas'AWoman'sPlea'(20January1883)fortheWeeklyHerald.BernsteinpublishedmuchofhernewspaperverseinabookcalledMirren'sMusingsin 1876, but her post-1876 poetry, which includes the two poems anthologised here,remaineduncollecteduntiltheASLSeditionofhercompleteworks,ASongofGlasgowTown(ed. EdwardH.Cohen,AnneR. Fertig and Linda Fleming),waspublished in 2013. Smith's'ReplytoMarionBernstein'isbrieflydescribedintheeditor'snotesbutthetextofthepoemisnotincluded.

'On theFranchiseDemonstration'expressesBernstein's frustrationat the lackofafemalepresenceattherecentreformdemonstrationinGlasgow.Inherview,womenshouldbeorganisingthemselveslikeanyothersubsetofworkers:'Wherewereyourtrades?'SmithisscepticalofBernstein'soutrageonthispoint.AccordingtotheeditorsofASongofGlasgowTown,Smith'expressesangeratthosewho"sayawoman'srightsphereisherhome"andanticipates a subsequent stage of political discourse' (256), but in context it is clear thatSmith'sresponseisinfactheavilysarcastic.HerthankstoBernsteinfor'tak[ing]usinhand'andpointinghermoreapatheticsistersonto'glory'arenotsincere–thoughBernsteinmaynotbeheronlytarget.Herattitudetothe'liegelordsandmastersathome',whowillbeleftbehindtostrugglewiththehousework,issomewhatambiguous.In'AnswertoM.A.Smith',BernsteinbypassesSmith'smorefancifulimaginedconsequencesoffemaleparticipationinreformagitation–rowsoffaintingdemonstratorsmenacedbypoliceviolence,cannibalism–toattacktheargumentabouttheundesirabilityofleavingthedomesticsphereonitsmostliterallevel.Ifahousewifecanleavehometodrinkteawithfriends,surelyshecandosotocastavote.ThesepoemsexemplifytwoofBernstein'smostcommonarguments:thatvotingshouldbe a demystified, everyday civic action that is not at oddswithmore traditionally'feminine'pursuits,andthatenfranchisingwomenwouldproducesuperiorpoliticaloutcomesthatextendbeyondimprovingthelotofwomenthemselves.The'Answer'endsonasimilar

noteto'ADream', inwhich‘Therewerefemalechiefs intheCabinet,/(MuchbetterthanmalesI’msure!)/AndtheCommonswerethree-partsfeminine,/WhiletheLordswereseennomore!’

HonorRieleyOntheFranchiseDemonstrationofthe6thInst.WomenofGlasgow,Whatdoyoumean?

WhywereyouidleAllthroughsuchascene?

Wherewereyourbanners?Wherewereyourtrades?

HavewomennoneedOfpoliticalaids?

Muchworkforsmallwages,Greatwrongs,whichfewnote,

Areyours,tillyourightthingsBygettingthevote.

Now,whenareyougoingTomakesuchashow

Forfemininefranchise,I'manxioustoknow?

LaysewingandcookingAsideforoneday;

AssemblebythousandsInsplendidarray.

Idon'tmeanindressesOfcostlyexpense;

ImeaninthesplendourOfbrightcommon-sense.

ProveyourrighttothevoteBythethousandswhocraveit;

Andwithsteadypersistence—Toaskistohaveit.

MARIONBERNSTEINGlasgowWeeklyHerald,20September1884.

ReplytoMarionBernsteinontheFranchiseDemonstrationofthe6thUlt.(SeetheWeeklyHeraldissueof20thSept.)Well,thankgoodnessthatsomeonecantakeusinhand,Suchpoor,weak,sillythingsthatweare;

Whobutuswouldleavepoliticsalltomenfolks?Why,suchweaknessisquitebeyondpar.

They,ofcourse,sayawoman'srightsphereisherhome.Bringingbabesupthewaytheyshouldgo,

Thatastrong-mindedfemaleisquiteoutofplaceMakingpuddingsandsuchlike,youknow.

Butjuststoptillwe'vemadeupourmindsforavote,Won'tweshowthemathingortwo,when

Itshallcometoourturninprocessiontomarch,Leavingallourhomecarestothem,then.

Onlyfancy,ourliegelordsandmastersathome,Withthehouseinalitterandmess,

Allthemealstolookafter,thebeds,too,tomake,Andthechildrentowashandtodress.

A"cag'dlord,"indeed,wereasnothingcompar'dTothechafingandfrythey'dbein;

ButofcoursesuchweematterswillnottroubleusWhenanation'sreformwebegin.

Withallour"homeinfluence"flungtothewinds,Andourfemininemodesty—bah!

Ifour"lordsofcreation"can'tactforthemselves,It'squitetimewecameforward(oh,la!).

Andletnooneimaginewe'llstopatavote—Thatwillbebutonelittlewedgein.

Wedon'tworkbyhalveswhenwesetaboutthings,Andarenotlikelywiththistobegin.

Afterthatletnotmenlookformealswellprepar'd,Fortheircomforteighttimesoutofnine;

Theymaythinkthemselvesbless'diftheydonot,poorsouls,Onadishofstew'dpoliticsdine.

Nay,worsestill,spiteofcanniballawsnowenforced,AroastSalisburymaycomeintheirway,

OrahashofthePremier,thatnice"GrandOldMan,"Whomtheycan'thavetoomuchof,theysay;

Butwedon'twanttoscarethem,solet'stothepointOfthisgranddemonstrationofours—

OfthehowandthewhenwearegailytomarchIntheprideofourfemininepowers.

Inallsplendour,though,mindyou,sense,common,ornot,Maycontentsomewithcommonarray,

Butbesure,ifthere'sfin'ryatalltobegot,'Twillbeflauntedabroadonthatday.

Butawordtothewise,ingoodtimeforyourears,Thepolicewillbetherebeyonddoubt,

AndtheymaynotregardusasfemalesatallWheninmen'sworkwechoosetoturnout.

Andthat"Peabody"somebodyelse,hadaplan,HesuggesteditoncetotheMacs,

'TwasinlieuofthepeasethatoneachhundredthheadHethepowerofthebatonshouldtax.

Nowtosavehimthetrouble,theMacstooaswell,I'veanideajustcometomymind,

Thatyoupickforeachhundredththepoorweaklyones,Whotofaintingsaretoomuchinclined.

ItwillgivethemarestiftheyonlycontriveJusttodropwhenhecountsninety-nine.

Thatwillsuiteverybody,andsavethematrudge,Asthey'remerely"laidoutinaline."

Butnowthesepreliminariessofararrang'd,There'saquestionwecan'tdowithout—

Who'stoheadourprocession,togloryleadon,Who'sourleader?Now,Marion,speakout.

M.A.SMITH.GlasgowWeeklyHerald,4October1884.

AnswertoM.A.Smith.DearM.A.Smith,Whoareyoujokingwith,Andwhatabout?I'vetakenendlesstroubletofindout.Wouldyouwishwomen-folkstostayathome,Andneverroam;Eventochurch,orjustafriendtosee,Andtakeacupoftea?Ironmachines,weknow,needrestforoiling,Canwivesalwaysbetoiling?Evenhard-workedwivescontrivesometimeorotherTospendadaywithmother.WhatIproposeis,that,insteadofgoingTomother,you'llbeshowingYourinterestinlaws,aswellaslabours,Bothforyourselvesandneighbours.Andwhenwegetthevote,IwishyoualltonoteIttakesnolongertovotemembersinToParliamentthanSchoolBoards.DidyouwinTheSchoolBoardvotefornothing?No;youuseitAndnonesayyouabuseit.YourvoteswillhaveadifferenteffectTovotesoffoolsanddrunkards,Iexpect.Wewomenneedtouseourstrengthofmind—Strong-mindedmenweveryseldomfind;Andfeeble-mindedvotingisthecauseOfallunrighteouslaws.YouheardofthatpooroutcastlatelyfoundDeadontheopenground?—Alittlechild,homeless,unaided.NoteThecruelwrong.Eachwidowedmother'svoteWouldtendtochangethelawswhichnowweseeSufferingsuchthingstobe.PureprinciplesandtendernessofheartShouldinourlawshavepart.Isay,'tiswoman'srighttomakethisso.Andwhocananswer,No? MARIONBERNSTEIN.GlasgowWeeklyHerald,18October1884.

35. ElectionSong.Thissongwaspublishedasasingle-pagebroadsideinNovember1885.Thepoemisworthyof interest,particularlygiventheattributionofafemalewriter,andthepositionadopted,whichisscornfuloflocalLiberalinterests:ThomasGlenCoats(1846-1922)wasamajorlocalthreademployerinthePaisleyareaandawell-knownLiberal.ThesongitselfrelatestotherecentcontesttodecidewhowouldbetheLiberalcandidateandthechoicesthatwouldbeoffered the electorate at the general election later in themonth. Coats hadbackedW.B.BarbouragainsttheLiberalchallengefromJamesClark(anotherlocalthreadmanufacturerand the town’s provost). In the end, Barbour stood against the Tory challenger, MajorMcKerrelofthe1stAyrshireRifles,whowouldhavebeenthechoiceofthe‘IndignantDame’,inacontestthatwasdominatedbythequestionofthedisestablishmentoftheChurchofScotland.Referencetothe‘‘PrimroseLeague’dames’issignificant.Paisleywasastrong-holdofthe(Tory)PrimroseLeagueinScotland,boastingsomeofitsfirstandlargesthabitations(branches).In1886anallfemalehabitationwasestablishedinPaisleythatsoonrecruited800members.

Barbourwontheelection,althoughtheLiberalmajoritywasreduced–showingthatfranchiseextensiondidnotsimplyfavourLiberalinterests.Theturn-outofthenewexpandedelectoratewas88%.

CatrionaM.M.MacdonaldAir—"Conceivemeifyoucan."—"Patience."InPaisley,oneTxxxxxGxxxCxxxxBelievedthebestwaytogetvotes

WastospoutandrevileInavirulentstyle,

Whichchivalry'sabsencedenotes.NowIdaresayyou'llhardlybelieve(AndIknowwhenyouhearthisyou'llgrieve)

ThathesneeredandcallednamesAtthe"PrimroseLeague"dames—

Asubjecthe'dmuchbetterleave.FortherehardlycanbeanydoubtThey'reaclassheknowsnothingabout;

Andonefacthewon'tletUsamomentforget

Is—when'Rads'camein,'manners'wentout!Hisquotationsmakethisveryplain,Thathisstudieswon'tinjurehisbrain;

Bute'ennurseryrhymesArenothappysometimes,

Whenwedon'tknowwhentorefrain.

ANINDIGNANTDAME.Paisley,18November1885.

36. TheSongoftheMillionaire.TheGlasgowWeeklyMailpublishedseveralpoemsaboutHighlandlandagitation in1884,including'Glenelg'(26January),'TheCryoftheCrofter'byKeithRobertson(22November)and'TheExiles'byHenryThomasMacdonald(13December).Thesepoemsdonotexplicitlyconnectthecrofters'grievancestothenationwideagitationinfavouroftheextensionofthefranchise – even though, bymakingmany crofters 'ten-poundoccupiers', theReformActwouldofferthemanavenuetoseeksomedegreeofredress.'TheSongoftheMillionaire',publishedon27December,doesmakethislink.Itreferencesaspecificlegalcase,Winansv.Macrae,whichwaseventuallydecidedbeforetheCourtofSession in1885.ThetenantofKintail,WilliamLouisWinans(1823–1897),wasthesonofanAmericaninventoroflocomotivetechnologywhohadmadehisfortuneexpandingthefamilyrailroadbusinesstoRussia.Hebroughtacaseoftrespassagainstalocalman,MurdochMacrae,whoselambhadstrayedofftheroadandgrazedonlandwhichWinanswantedtoconvertintoadeerforest.Winanswentontolosethecase,buthiszealouspursuitofsuchapettycomplaintmakeshimaperfectrepresentativeoftheimpunityenjoyedbythelandowningclass.However,afterfourstanzasofboastingabouttheoppressivepowerofthealmightydollar,themillionaireendsonanoteoftrepidationthatsomethingmaybeabouttochange.Andheiscorrect:thefranchisebillwhich he obscurely senses may bring about his comeuppance paved the way for theformationoftheCrofters'PartyandthepassageoftheCrofters'HoldingsActof1886.

HonorRieley

MrWinans,theAmericanmillionaire,inhisexaminationintheKintail"PetLamb"Case,declared,"Mydesireistogetridofthenineteencottagesandtheirinhabitants.Ishan'tleaveastoneunturnedtillIgetridofthem,inordertoprotectmydeer."—DailyMail.I'maYankeemillionaire,FromacrossthebigAtlantic,AndIholditisnotfairForthepoortodrivemefrantic.I'veappealedforlegalhelpToabolishnineteencottars,Andforthistheyloudlyyelp—Wivesandpetlambs,sonsanddaughters.Mytwohundredthousandacres—Well,hereIhavenomore—WhyshouldpeopletaketheshakersJustbecausefromshoretoshoreIdecidetohaveaplayground,Andturnthecrittersout,Thato'ertheircornandhaygroundMybravedeermayrunandrout?Theymaywringtheirhandsandholler,

Theymayweepandwhineandcry,Butthere'snothingbeatsthe"Dollar,"GuesstheyfounditsoinSkye.Ifacottardarestogrumble,Andrefusesto"vamoose,"Guesshe'lllearntoeatpiehumbleWhenthegunboatscometo"cruise."ThenhurrahforYankeedollars!NoGovernmentIfear,Lord-Advocatesnorscholars,DareputMENbeforemydeer.Thelawsaremadeformoniedmen,Theearthandseaistheirs,AndScotchmenarebutvermin,Liketherabbitsandthehares.Wecanbuythem,wecansellthem,Wecanhuntthemthroughtheearth,Wecanstarvethem,wecantellthemLandLordsownedthemfromtheirbirth.Theirlawsareonnostatutebook,Sofartheirpowerisnil,ButIyetmayhavetotakemyhook—ConfoundthatFRANCHISEBILL! WILLDICKSON.Whiteinch,Dec.19.GlasgowWeeklyMail,27December1884.

PartFour:PoemsrelatingtotheRepresentation

ofthePeopleAct,1918

37. Regrets.ThisisoneofnumerouspoliticalpoemspublishedinAberdeenin1908,whenahigh-profileelectionwasheldinthecitytochoosetherectorofAberdeenUniversity.Thecandidatesforthisrolewerethereigningprimeminister,HerbertHenryAsquith,andhisparliamentaryrival,theUnionistEdwardCarson.ThesuffragettesdespisedAsquith,whomtheysawasatraitor,andtheyagitatedacrossthecountrytounderminehispremiership;thereisevenevidencetosuggestthatsomesuffragetteswereplanningtoassassinatehim.12Thisconcertedefforttochallenge Asquith is reflected in the Aberdeen rectorial election campaign, where thesuffragettesofAberdeengotbehindAsquith’sopponent,Carson.Thepoemappearsintheonly known issue ofThe Suffragette, a magazine published by the Aberdeen UniversityWoman's Suffrage Association. Asquith is the speaker of this poem, and he is branded adisloyalhypocrite.TheparodicvoiceofAsquithstatesthathewisheshehadgotwomenonhissideduringtheelectioncampaign,astheywereasubstantialdemographic,andhealsoscoldshimselfforforgettingtherepercussionsofbetrayingthesuffragettes.

MichaelShawAir—"SirSolomonLevi."MynameisH.H.Asquith,AndIliveatDowningStreet,It'sthereIchangemyargumentsTocovermyretreat.I'vesecond-handedprinciples,Andeverythinginthatline,YetallthemenwhovoteformeAreahundredandfifty-nine.IhopedIoncewouldRectorbe,Infar-northAberdeen;Butnowmyhopeisturnedtofear,Idreamwhatmighthavebeen.IwishI'dgotthewomen'svote,Itwouldhaveseenmethrough;ButtheycomplainthatmysupportOfthemwasfarfromtrue.Theyknowwhenvoterscometome,Theirgrievancestoair,Howeverdulltheyseemtobe,Iofferthemachair.AndwhenI'velistenedwearilyTowhattheyhadtosay,Iclaimitismychiefestcare,Idon'tsendvotesaway.

12NeilTweedie,‘Suffragette“plottoassassinateAsquith”’,TheTelegraph,29September2006.

IwishI'dmetthewomenso,Whenjusticewastheirplea,NotleftthemstandingonthestepTillIhadtimetoflee.MensaytheyhaveabilityAndwouldhaveworkedforme;ButfoolishlyIdidnotseeThattheywouldvotersbe.YetIhearthatofthewomen,Therearethreewillvoteforme,TheyareFloraLaura,LittleDick,AndasecondT.C.B.I'lltaketheirvoteswithpleasure,ButIcanhavenorespectFortheirintelligence,who'dtryAfoemantoelect.TheSuffragette,28October1908.

38. Carson'sFarewelltoAberdeen.Unlike the previous poem, ‘Regrets’ (written by suffragettes tomock the primeminister,Herbert Henry Asquith, who was a candidate in the 1908 Aberdeen University rectorialelection),thispoemiswrittenbyasupporterofAsquith,anditattackstheprimeminister’srivalinthatelection–theUnionist,EdwardCarson.ThispoemwaspublishedinThePremier,anAberdeenjournalestablishedasaheraldforthecampaigntoinstallAsquithasrector.Inthis poem,which is set to the tuneof Robert Burns's ‘Ae FondKiss’, Carson is portrayedaddressinghissupporters,Unionistsandsuffragettes,afterlosingtherectorialelection.ThepoemgleefullyanticipatesthefailureoftheCarsoncampaign,anditcastsCarsonasweakandmelodramatic.CarsonstatesthatheregretshiscandidatureandAsquithisportrayedas'toostrongformetofightwith'.

MichaelShaw(Tothetuneof"AeFondKiss.")Unionists,wenowmustsever!Suffragettes,farewellforever!Deepinheart-wrungtearsI'llpledgeye,WarringsighsandgroansI'llwageye.WhoshallsaythatFortunegrieveshim,Whilethestarofhopesheleaveshim?Me,naecheerfu'twinklelightsme;Darkdespairaroundbenightsme.NowImournmycandidature—Solelyduetomygood-nature;Lansdowne,Milner—bothdeclinedit:13Why,SaintPatrick!didImindit?HadIne'erconsentedblindlyTotheirplan,proposedsaekindly,—Erin,ne'erfromtheedeparted,Ihadne'erbeenbroken-hearted.Faretheewell,victoriousAsquith!—Fartoostrongformetofightwith!MaytheLiberalLordRectorProvethe'Varsity'sProtector!Unionists,wenowmustsever!Suffragettes,farewellforever!Deepinheart-wrungtearsI'llpledgeye,

13HenryPetty-Fitzmaurice,5thMarquessofLansdowne(1845-1927);AlfredMilner,1stViscountMilner(1854-1925).

WarringsighsandgroansI'llwageye.ThePremier,30June1908.

39. [GreengrowtherashesO]In1914twosuffragettes,FrancesParkerandEthelMoorhead,attemptedtobombRobertBurns’sbirthplacecottage inAlloway.AlthoughthisattackwaswidelycharacterisedasanassaultagainstBurnspersonally,thereislittleevidencetosuggestthatthesuffragettesfeltanyantagonismtowardshim.Infact,suffragetteslikeHelenCrawfurdstyledhispoem‘TheRightsofWoman’asproto-suffragette,while‘ScotsWhaHae’wasfrequentlysungbyScottishsuffragettesatprocessions.Thiscomicalpoem,whichappropriatesBurns's'GreenGrowtheRashesO',waspublished in theGlasgowsocialistnewspaperForward,whichwasbroadlysupportiveofthesuffragecause:itfrequentlypublishedarticlesbySylviaPankhurst,anditranaregularcolumnbyJanieAllan,aprominentGlaswegiansuffragetteandsocialistwhowas known for encouraging hunger strikes in prisons. The poem comments on thesuffragette’s signature militant tactic: window smashing. The speaker of the poemsardonicallyimploresthereadertogivesvotestowomen,inordertostoptheirviolence;wearetoldthattheirviolencemaysoonescalateiftheirdemandsarenotmet.Althoughcomical,andnotespeciallysupportiveofthesuffragettesthemselves,thepoemdoeswittilyhighlightthe fact that extending the franchise to women would end the vandalism. The poem isattributed toVotes for Women, one of the leading London suffragette newspapers; theauthor,T.E.J.,isunidentified.

MichaelShaw

GreengrowtherashesO,BanggotheglassesO,Wehavenopane,dearMother,now,WithinourwindowsashesO.

Forguid'ssakegi'ethelassesVotes,OronythingtheyfancyO,

Ortheywillsoonbeatourthroats,They'regettin'maistunchancyO.

GreengrowtherashesO,AnotherwindowcrashesO,'Twerebetterfartogi'ethemvotesThantholesicawfu'bashesO! T.E.J.inVotesforWomen.

Forward,1March1913.

40. TheSuffragette'sNutCracked.Muchofthepoetryonthesuffragettestakesaclearstanceonthedebateregardingvotesforwomen,butwefindambivalentpoetrytoo.Manyofthesuffragette-inspiredpoemsintheEdinburghEveningDispatch,forinstance,areconflictedonthe‘votesforwomen’issue.ThispoemfocusesonalocalEdinburghsuffragette,LadySteel(BarbaraJoannaPatersonSteel)whostoodforEdinburghCouncil(StStephen'sWard)followingthedeathofthecouncillor,BaillieClark.ThepoembeginswithacomplimentarytonetowardsSteelandthesuffragettecause,appearingtoshareLadySteel'spositionthattheCouncil is 'devious'andthat itcanonly be cured by 'admit[ting] the female section'.The speaker also states that women,through their knowledge of children, will be better able to explain theinfant mortalityrate.Butbytheendofthepoem,thespeakerbecomesmoreconservative,notingthatthebestwaywomencan'blesstheearth'isbyinfluencingmenforgood,byremaining'bythehearth'.Thepoemreflectsthecomplexityandambivalenceoffeelingthatsomepeoplehadtowardsthe'votesforwomen'campaign.

MichaelShaw TheCouncilinitsdeviouswaysFromrighttowrongforeverstrays,Thereasonwhy?Atlastweknow—DidLadySteellastnightnotshow?BeforetheCouncilreachperfection,Theymustadmitthefemalesection.'TiscurioushowthissimpleplanNe'erdawneduponthemindofman.Guidfaith!Tomakeafreeconfession,Thepubliclonghadtheimpression—Whenreadingo'ertheirsillyspeeches—Theywerejustwomenwearingbreeches.But,oh!whatcanaladyknow'BoutsweepingstreetsorclearingsnowOrwaterandelectricmains,Ourcablecarsandsewagedrains?But,then,shekensabouttheweans,'Boutwivesandmaidens'achesandpains;She'llquicklytellthereasonwhyTheinfantdeath-rateissohigh?Howchildrenshouldbeclothedandfed,Howtobewashedandputtobed;Giveinformation,greatlyprized,Ofhowallgermsaresterilised!

Nodoubtwhenladiesthereappear,Themoralatmospherewillclear,Beof[indeciph.]tosmellandhearing,Fromsmokeanddrinkandvulgarswearing.Menmustbeinawaefu'plight,Whenwomenweakcanputthemright—Fordoourchurchmennotnowsay,"'Twaswomanfirstledmanastray."Whensheherequalrightshaswon,Willshenotfindherprestigegone?For[indeciph.]where[indeciph]strive,14Thestrongestonlycansurvive.Whatcansoft-heartedwomando?Ifshe'stofightwithsuchacrew;Hersighsandtearswouldbeinvain;Forman,rudeman,theprizewillgain.IfwomenwanttoblesstheearthTheirpowerinfinite’sbythehearth;Man'severyinfluenceforgoodIsfoundinwifeandsisterhood. —TraQuair.EdinburghEveningDispatch,31October1907.

14Theprintqualityofthisissuedeterioratestowardsthebottomofthepage,makingthislineindecipherable.Itmightread,‘Forfavours,wherethemassesstrive’.

41. TheGreatDemonstration.On 9October 1909, a large historical pageantwas staged on the streets of Edinburgh tocampaign for women’s suffrage. The pageant was organised by theWomen’s Social andPoliticalUnion(WSPU)andledbyFloraDrummond,aprominentsuffragettefromArranwhowas commonly referred to as ‘theGeneral’ by fellow suffragettes. Thepageant featuredfloats,whichpresentedvariouskeyhistoricalScottishwomen,includingQueenMargaretandMaryQueenofScots.This iconiceventinspired‘TheGreatDemonstration’,apoemwhichappearsonapageoftheEdinburghEveningDispatchalongsideseveral largephotographsfrom the 'Suffragette Pageant'. The poem is largely descriptive and broadly neutral in itspresentationofthesuffragettes. Itbeginsbyrecountingaconventionalmorningandthenmoveson todescribea 'spoor' of suffragettes,who cover theBurghmuir links.Thepoemnotesthevariousdifferenttypesofwomenwhoparticipatedandcommentsontheirbanners(aswellastheircolours:green,whiteandpurple–thecoloursoftheWSPU).Thereferenceto ‘MrsSpankhurst’reflectsamockingtonetowardsthesuffragettesthatcanbefoundinseveralEdinburghEveningDispatchpoems.

MichaelShawAFragment.(FromthecollectionofMrsSpankhurst.)ThemornofNinthOctoberbroke'Midcloudsofmurkycitysmoke,AndintheircourseslikethestarsBegantorunthecitycars,Pulledbyacablestrong;

WhichneverjoltsorbreaksorjarsExceptwhenthingsgowrong.

FairPrincesStreetawoketolife,Andactivebusinessmen

Leftbedandbreakfast,childandwife,Toreachtheirdesksbyten;

AndsoonthebusyforenoonpassedLikeautumnleavesonwinterblast.MeanwhilethelinksatBurghmuirWeregettingcoveredwiththespoorOfSuffragettes,whoformedinranks,IntendingsoontostretchtheirshanksBymarchingintotown.

Allsortsandshapesweregatheredthere,Theyoung,theold,thefat,thespare;TheirbloomingcheeksandtressesgaySeemednewlydone-upfortheday,Theirbootswereblackandbrown.

HighoverheadtheirbannerfliesItsbiliouspatterntotheskies,ThewhitetheirinnocencedenotesAndgentlewinningways;

ThegreentheirplansforgettingvotesAndshrinkingfrommen'sgaze;

WhileinthepurpleyoumayspyThehuethatcloudsthebroworeye,Whichthesefairwomensmite.

ThewomanwhothosecolourschoseMayhapwasthinkingofherwoes,Orthoughttomortifyherfoes,Ormatchthecoloursofherhose,Ormaybeshewastight.

Butbannerliketoit,Iween,Wasne'erbymortalheraldseen.EdinburghEveningDispatch,11October1909.

42. ShakespeareUpToDate.BecausemostnewspapersintheearlytwentiethcenturyeitherbackedtheLiberalorToryparties,whichwerebothbroadlyopposedto‘votesforwomen’,suffragettescreatedtheirownmagazinesandnewspaperstopublisharticlesandverse.Forinstance,severaluniversitysuffrage societies produced their ownmagazines, and these areoften fruitful sources forsuffragette poetry. This particular poem, which is also a dramatic sketch, appears inJusSuffragii Alumnae, the magazine of the Queen Margaret College Suffrage Society(Glasgow).DrMarionGilchrist,thefirstfemalegraduateoftheUniversityofGlasgow,wasthe Honorary President of the society at this time.This poem, which becomes apoeticconversationbetweenthreesuffragettes,appropriatesMacbeth,specificallythe'Tomorrow,andtomorrow,andtomorrow'soliloquy.ThespeakerofthefirstsectionofthesketchcallsfortheLiberals(towardswhomthesuffragetteswereespeciallyhostile)toget'Out,out',astheir promises are 'shadows void of substance'; their words are 'fullof sound andfury,Signifyingnothing'.ThethreesuffragetteswhostandinfortheWeirdSistersofMacbethconverseastheywaitinasquarenearWestminster,discussinghowtheycantroubleAsquith,theLiberalprimeminister,andpreventhimfromsleeping.

MichaelShawAwaitingthePassingoftheBill.TO-MORROW,andto-morrow,andto-morrow,CreepsinthispettypacefromdaytodayTothelastsyllableofthesession'stime,AndallouryesterdayshavelightedbillsThewaytodustydeath.Out,out,falseLiberals!Yourpromisesareshadows,voidofsubstance,ThatstruttheirhouruponyourLib'ralplatformsAndthenareheardnomore.Yea,theyaretalesToldbyfalsequibblers,fullofsoundandfury,Signifyingnothing!SCENE—ASquarenearWestminster.THUNDER—EnterthreeSuffragettes.

FirstSuffragette—Wherehasthoubeen,sister?SecondSuffragette—Doingtime.ThirdSuffragette—Sister,wherethou?FirstSuffragette—TheCommonswerediscussingvotesforwomen

Andtalkedandtalkedandtalked.Giveme,quothI:Arointthee,pest!th'ill-manneredcrewreplied.NowAsquith'sgonetoDowningStreet,Mastero'theCabinet,ButinabusI'llthitherrideAndwithtwostaunchfriendsbymysideI'lldo,I'lldo,andI'lldo.

SecondSuffragette—I'llgivehimmymind.FirstSuffragette—Thou'rtkind.ThirdSuffragette—AndI.

FirstSuffragette—Imyselftakeallthebother.Wewillmakehistroublesgrow!FromeveryquartershalltheyblowI'theshipman'scard.Iwilldrawhimdryashay:SleepshallneithernightnordayHanguponhispenthouselid;HeshallliveamanforbidWearyse'nnightsninetimesnineShallhedwindle,peak,andpine:OnhisdoorstepayeshallfloatAtempestuouspetticoat. F.M.N.

JusSuffragiiAlumnae,January1909.

43. [NewingtonButtswerelively]Manysuffragetteswere imprisoned for theirmilitantactions,andseveralwrotepoetry intheir cells, which they ‘smuggled’ from prison. This poem appears inHolloway Jingles, acollection of poemswritten bymilitant suffragettes serving sentences inHolloway PrisonduringMarchandApril1912forsmashingwindowsinCentralLondon.ThesepoemswerelatercompiledbyaGlaswegianinmate,NancyA.John,andpublishedbytheGlasgowbranchof theWSPU (themilitantWomen's Social and Political Union). This poem is by Dr AliceStewartKer,aScottishphysicianeducatedinDublinwhooftenwentunderthealiasofJaneWarton.ShewasalsoasupporterofthetemperancemovementandbecameinvolvedintheTheosophicalSociety.Kerwasreleasedearly fromhersentence inHollowayPrison,whichwas either due to illness or forcible feeding.The poem recounts Ker's trial by jury and itdepictsthejudge,'JusticeLawrie'.Thespeakerstatesthat'Theliespileduplikesnowdrifts'andimpliesthatthejudgewasbiased.Thepoemissettothesong'AnnieLaurie',aScottishsongbelievedtohavebeenwrittenbyWilliamDouglas.

MichaelShawTune—AnnieLaurie.NewingtonButtswerelively,Whensession'stimefelldue,

FortheresatJusticeLawrie,Withtwelvegoodmenandtrue:

Andsattosentenceme—AndexceptforJusticeLawrie,

I'dbefarawayandfree.Theliespileduplikesnowdrifts,Thewomen'scaselookedwan;

TheiranswerswerethebravestThate'erjudgefrownedupon:

Andabiassedjudgewashe—AndexceptforJusticeLawrie,

I'dbefarawayandfree.HeartheJewaswitnesslying,Measuringdamagesinfeet;

Andtoheartheownersighing,Whenitprovestoomuch,issweet.

Andalltheworldcansee,ThatexceptforJusticeLawrie,

I'dbefarawayandfree. —Dr.AliceKer.HollowayJingles,(Glasgow:WSPU,1912),p.25.

44. FullTide.LiketheprecedingpoembyAliceKer,thispoemappearsinHollowayJingles.KertravelledtoLondon to participate in the window smashing campaign like several other Scottishsuffragettes,includingHelenCrawfurdandtheauthorofthispoem,A.A.Wilson,whoalsocontributedasecondpoemtoHollowayJingles,‘AnEnd’.‘FullTide’heraldsthefactthat'thetidehasturned'andattemptstoencouragethischange:'Ohrisingtide,flowin!'.Thisimageismostlikelyanallegoryfortheriseofwomen'srights;indeed,thetideisfeminisedbybeingcomparedtoa‘bosom’.Aboatmanisalsodepicted:hehastofindanewplacetomoorhisvessel,suggestingthatmenwillhavetochangeandadapttothenewtide.

MichaelShawThetidehasturned—Oh,risingtide,flowin!Assnowuponthefarhorizonblue

Iseethecrestedwavesinlongoutline,Andsoonthesilverglitterofsunshine,Shallshimmeronthesurfacesnearto.

Thetidehasturned—Ohrisingtide,flowin!Thetidehasturned—Ohrisingtide,flowin!Theedgesofthegentlyliftinglevels

Makelengthenedarcsalongthegoldsandspouring.Hark,boatman!higherupthycraftneedsmooring,Anthouwouldstsaveitfromencroachingrevels.

Thetidehasturned—Ohrisingtide,flowin!Ohfulltideflowinghigh—rollin,rollin!Noneedtomeetit,o'erthehills'tisrimming

Higherandhigheryet,itswaterswelling,Allobstaclesaresweptintoitsswelling,Andouttoseauponitsbosombrimming

Theeagerboatshavegone—Ohflowingtiderollon! —A.A.Wilson.HollowayJingles,(Glasgow:WSPU,1912),p.20.

45. WomenShallbeFreeHelenCrawfurdwasaGlaswegiansuffragettewholaterbecameaprominentmemberoftheCommunistPartyofGreatBritain,andatowncouncillorforDunoon.Shewasahighlyactivesuffragette who participated in the same window smashing campaign that led to thepublicationofHollowayJingles.AlthoughCrawfurddoesnotappeartohavecontributedtoHolloway Jingles, she saw poetry and song as key tools for the suffragettes. In herautobiography,whichhasbeendigitisedbytheMarxMemorialLibrary,shehighlightsherappreciationforRobertBurnsandthefactthatsheencouragedfellowsuffragettestosing‘ScotsWhaHae’whenagitating.Thepoembelow,whichappearsinasuffragetteconventionprogramme,isevidencethatshealsowrotepoliticalsongs,andthisoneoffersarallyingcryforsuffragettes.Thepoem'srefrainstressesthatthecallforwomen’senfranchisementisa'justdemand'andthatthesuffragetteswillnotbackdownuntil'womenshallbefree'.Thepoemalsoexplainsthelogicbehindthesuffragettes'position:womenareportrayedashardworkerswhoarealsocapableofholdinghighoffice–QueenVictoriaisheldupasawomanwhohas 'graced our country's throne / For half-a-hundred years'. The concluding stanzainstructssuffragettestoputpressureonthosewhohavemade'pledges'tothem.

MichaelShaw

Agoodheartandasteadymind,Ourpurposeclearinview,ThewholewideworldshallunderstandWhatwomenmeantodo.Andhavetheyfixedthewhenandwhere,Andwhatiswomen'splace?Justwhatwecanandwill,noless,Tobenefitourrace.Andshalltheyscornourjustdemand,Andshallwevotelessbe?Tospreadourcause,weshallnotpause,Tillwomenshallbefree.Whatdotheyfear,whoholdthemback,Whonumberhalftherace?ThatwetheneedfulcouragelackTofillaworthyplace.Thesexthattoilsinhomeandmill,Thatsharestheirsmilesandfears,Thesexthatgracedourcountry'sthroneForhalf-a-hundredyears.Andshalltheyscornourjustdemand,Andshallwevotelessbe?Tospreadourcause,weshallnotpause,Tillwomenshallbefree.Whatnowofpledgesfreelymade

Forservicefreelygiven?NowtheywhoprosperedbyouraidToactionmustbedriven.Thenjoin,thewomenofourlandAlleagerforthefray—Withoneandallandhandinhand,Andwhoshallbidusnay?Andshalltheyscornourjustdemand,Andshallwevotelessbe?Tospreadourcause,weshallnotpause,Tillwomenshallbefree.

46. TheMonstrousRegimentofWomen.Inavolumeofpoems(EchoesofStrife)thatverymuchcapturesthesentimentsoftheGreatWarera,thispoemisoneoftwothataddressthewaysinwhichwarimpactedonwomen,theother being ‘AMother of Britain’ (p. 27) that addresses the plight ofmotherswhosesoldiersonshadbeenlostinthewar.Whilethe‘MotherofBritain’wouldnodoubthavebeenenfranchised in1918, theyoungerwomencelebrated in ‘TheMonstrousRegiment’wouldhave to wait until 1928. Rev. Walter Arnold Mursell of Coats Memorial Baptist Church(Paisley)publishedanumberofpoetrycollections.InthispoemMursellevokesJohnKnox’sfamous treatise against female monarchs, The First Blast of the Trumpet Against theMonstrous Regiment of Women (1558) to make a point at odds with Knox’s scepticism.Mursell describes theways inwhichwomenhadplayed a full role in thewar effort (e.g.Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, est. 1917) and suggests that they were capable ofresponsibilitiesfarbeyondthosethoughtappropriateinpre-waryears.

CatrionaM.M.Macdonald

TimewaswhenmaidenfairBraidedhergoldenhair,Wonderedwhatclothestowear

Eachnightandmorning;Fearedlestshewetherfeet,Trembledamousetomeet,Hardlydaredcrossthestreet,

Strictwasherwarning.Nowinheruniform,Whether'tiscoldorwarm,Bravesshebothsunandstorm,

Truetoherstation;Gallantlygripshertask,Notimetodreamorbask,Proudofthechancetoask

WorkfortheNation.Whate'ertheCountrylacksMaidensshehasinpacks,NeatlyshespreadstheWaacs

AlltheLandover;FromThamestoGoldenGateWomanhasgraspedherFate,Eager,alert,elate,

VenusturnedRover. 1918.WalterA.Mursell,inEchoesofStrife(Paisley:J&RParlane,1919),pp.25–26.

47. ShouldWomenGetTheVote?LittleisknownofIsabellaForrest,otherthanthroughfamilyaccounts(preservedandsharedbyarelativeinAustralia,KatrinaGiebels)whichsaythatshewasaworkingwomanandthemotherofanillegitimatechild.SheappearstohavepublishedherpoemsintheBanffshirepress from around the 1880s to the 1920s: her collection, Islaside Musings (1926), wassponsoredbytheBanffshireJournal.Thisisanunusualpoeminthatweknowofrelativelyfewpoemsaboutfemalesuffrage–especiallypoemscriticaloftheplansforfemalesuffrage–writtenbyworking-classwomen.The1918Actdidnotextendthevotetoeverywoman,and in her striking opening lines, Forrest demands that it should do. The poem is bothimplicitlyconservativeinitssuggestionthat‘woman’ssphere’liesinthehome(possiblyadigat suffragettes and their public actions), and radical in hinting at the ‘quenchless flame’,threateningtoburstout,thatlieswithintheheartofthehonestandindependentworkingwoman. Forrest also suggests that thepoor arenot contentbutdeeply resentful at theirtreatment. In ‘TheyknowGodnevermeant it’ sheargues,notunusually forworking-classpoetry,thatdiscriminatingagainstandmistreatingthepoorisanti-Christian.Hersolutionisnotthatworkingwomenthemselvesshould jointhesuffragettes’ fight,however,butthatworkingmenshouldwinvotesforwomenthroughtheballotbox.Indoingso,theywillalsofreethemselvesfrom‘thechainsthatbindyou.’

KirstieBlairShouldwomengettheenviedvote?Istoutlyanswer,No—

UnlesstheprivilegeextendToloftyandtolow.

Awoman'ssphereshouldbeherhome,Nomatterwhatherstation,

Thosewhohavenotevenself-control,Howcouldtheyhelpthenation?

Thepoorman'swifeinhumblehomeMustlabour,toilandspin,

YetbedeniedherrighttoclaimWhatrankalonecanwin.

Toolong,alas!thepoorhavefeltThepowerofrankandstation,

Beenmadebuttoolsbyblunderingfools,Apreytodegradation.

Withinthehumbletoiler'sbreastTho'pressedateveryturn,

Theresmouldersstillaquenchlessflame,Thatfainwouldburstandburn.

Ofhonest,independentmind,

Howdeeplytheyresentit,Onethoughtalonecanleadthemon,TheyknowGodnevermeantit.

TheLairdcangethiswifeavote,Placelandandstateuponher,

ThetruegiveheedbuttothedeedThat'sjustifiedbyhonour.

Goforwardthen,yeworkingmen,Letnofalsepromisebindyou,

Castbribesaside,byrightabide,Andbreakthechainsthatbindyou.

Whencastinglotsforwomen'svotes,Onepointbesureyouaimat:

Ifrankandstatethehonourget,Thepoorman'swifecanclaimit.

IsabellaForrest,IslasideMusings(1926),pp.37–38.

scottish political poetry, song and the franchise, 1832–1918 anthology · 2018-02-14 · scottish...

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