Page:Blackwood's Magazine volume 137.djvu/742

736 Government are known to be mean and paltry in their views, and to have ends of their own to serve which are directly opposed to the interests and honour of the nation, it behoves our people to exercise a pressure as strong and as persistent as it can be made upon a Cabinet lying under such injurious suspicions. There may be reasons why a change of Government should not at this moment take place; but these must be reasons also why the Government should be kept under the watchful control of the nation. And, most undoubtedly, the crisis in which we now find ourselves, end how it may, ought not for a moment to be lost sight of by the public until they have provided against a repetition of such complications by ejecting from office the mean-spirited faction who have so involved us.

We remember to have heard of an incident which occurred on the race-ground at Kingston, Jamaica, and which frequently recurs to our attention because it illustrates exactly the attitude taken by Mr Gladstone in all his many foreign disagreements. Two jet-black sportsmen had come to the course arm-in-arm as good friends, but some contrariness having suddenly taken one of them, they were engaged in a contention which entertained a very large company between the heats. The exasperated negro, at the time when our informant first became cognisant of the quarrel, was pouring out his soul in no measured or choice terms against his late comrade, who evidently desired peace at any price, and who met the objurgations by exclaiming, "You mean it, sar? You mean it?" Upon this, the assailant not only repeated everything that had been advanced derogatory to his friend's honour, but proceeded to involve his friend's father, mother, sister, brother, "and ebrybody dat belangs to for you dam famly," in one sweeping malediction. Still the other demanded, "You mean it, sar? You mean it?" A threat to "mash all him blasted bones" produced only the same exclamation. And at last, just as they were clearing the course for next race, the poor ensuer of peace, having been knocked down and trampled on, was seen rising from the ground with bleeding mouth and nose, and heard faltering as the bell rang, "You mean it, sar? You mean it?"

P.S. – Since going to press, we have learned that the country is to be called upon for a credit of eleven millions. We hope and trust that the House of Commons will insist upon being fully informed as to the ends for which this money is to be employed before consenting to so large a demand. Printed by William Blackwood & Sons.