Dr. Kenealy has found out that one of the chief
causes of Par- liamentary transgression is the seven years' period which, in the ex- treme case, it is permitted Parliaments to live. He told the people of the Potteries, at the Town Hall, Burslem, on Wednesday, that the great National Debt was incurred by a Septennial Parliament, which is quite true,—as it is also true that it was incurred by a Parliament which usually meets at four o'clock ; and probably the one arrangement has about as much to do with its sins as the other. Beyond this terrible septennial °lunge, Dr. Kenealy does not seem to have had much to say, except to give the history of a stick he had received in Glasgow :—" ' This,' they said, is made of the true black birch of Scotland, and we give it you to birch your enemies, if ever they come near you.' Here is an eagle (pointing to the top of the stick), perched proudly upon a rock, and from the terrific look of his beak and talons, he is a very ugly bird, I can assure you—he is what, in sporting phrase, is called 'an ugly customer.' Here (pointing lower down) is the serpent of corruption, climbing gradually and stealthily towards this mighty eagle ; but the shining serpent, false as he has been from the beginning of the world, dares not to face that mighty eagle from the front, but is crawling up from behind. He is expecting, as many enemies of the people have done, to find that eagle napping. But he is mistaken, and he is sure to find the eagle wide awake. Little doubt may be entertained that the very moment the glitter- ing eye of that serpent falls upon that eagle, the eagle will be down upon him, and crush the serpent's head." This is sadly like the style of the young Columbian, in "Martin Chuzzlewit," only waterier :—" I tell that lion that Freedom's hand once twisted in hie mane, he lies a corse before me, and the eagles of the Great Republic laugh ha! ha!" The colliers of Burslem might have imitated the eagles of the Great Republic with advantage, but it is stated that instead of laughing, they cheered this wretched stuff.
Previous page
