Westminster corridors
Thursday, the First Day of May It is perhaps natural that our Clerks and Scribblers, having long confused Liberty with Copulation outside Wedlock (or with Whores,, or with Catamites, or for the pleasure mainly of Observers, or in a multitude of fantastic Postures), should think it astounding almost to the point of Incomprehension that men should choose to fight and die rather than suffer its Loss, or to flee from the scene when Liberty is certain to be extinguished by the forces of Despotism. Hence the facile Vapourings and feeble Inventions of these Gentlemen, when confronted by the Invasion and Conquest of Southern Vietnam by the Armies of the Fanatick Tyranny that prevails in the Northern part of that country, or when asked to explain the flight of thousands before the victorious Host, often employing the most risky means (as small craft upon the open sea) to make good their escape, often abandoning all their earthly possessions, often perishing along the way, and yet always refusing to accept the comfortable doctrine (comfortable at least in the safer parts of London) that tyrannous rule is greatly to be preferred to further war and struggle.
For some assert that a rising of the People has overthrown the corrupt favourites of a foreign Power, viz. the United States of America. To this theory it may fairly be objected, that even the United States has not opulence enough to suborn the millions who have attempted to flee (not all of tliem with success, alas), that spontaneous rebellions are fortunate indeed if they find the most modern implements of war readily to hand, with instructions on use conveniently translated from the Russian, and that the People seem oddly lacking in elation at their success. A more subtle form of this argument is that Tyranny owes its victory, not to the popularity of Fanatick doctrine (which is true), but to its embracing of the Patriotic Cause against Foreign domination — notwithstanding that the victors have put to the sword any Patriot who risked disagreement with the narrow Fanatick orthodoxy.
Others declare that the Government of Southern Vietnam was corrupt, venal, indolent and therefore deserving of its fate. Yet, by the same specious argument, one might justify an armed attack upon certain towns and cities in the Northern parts of our own Kingdom. And. on any account, it seems crabbed Iogick to-find the Government guilty of corruption and to sentence the people to imprisonment for life. Friday, the Second Day of May
Having often celebrated the virtues of the Fanatick armies in their writings, and having often predicted that their administration would confer great benefits upon the Vietnamese people, most Hacks and Scribblers from European Journals were nonetheless reluctant to witness these stirring and hopeful events at first hand, and instead departed hastily in company with those whom they had previously denounced as corrupt, and whom they now condemned for cowardice. Such few as remained, however, reported — while that worthless liberty was still available — some significant events, as that most people had cheered the conquering troops, Land that one man had committed suicide. It would be a foolish man in Saigon today who neither cheered nor committed suicide. And still more significant, the European Hacks were greeted with great warmth by the soldiers of the victorious Despotism. Some interpret this unlooked-for friendliness as evidence of the liberality of the new Rulers. Yet is it anything more than gratitude, thoroughly deserved, for the assistance rendered by a powerful Ally? Saturday, the Third of May
Large tracks of Vietnam having been laid waste, millions of Vietnamese having been killed, uprooted, and forced into exile, the entire people of that nation having been subjected to Despotick rule with no hope of Deliverance, we customarily refer to the matter as "an American tragedy."
Such, it seems, is also the view of many Americans. For, having asked the Vietnamese to risk death in the common struggle against Tyranny, they declare themselves unwilling to risk even inconvenience to give shelter to their defeated allies. And that noble Friend of the People, Master George McGovern, urges those who have fled in terror from the murderous Brigands now ruling in their countrie, to return voluntarily to their homes. What this cruel and fantastic suggestion is meant to demonstrate none can guess — unless it be to show that, despite everything, the American people chose the lesser of the two evils in 1972.
Sunday, the Fourth Day of May On this day, the Fanaticks now ruling Saigon have outlawed prostitution, public dancing and all manner of immoral entertainments. Is it too much to hope that this attack upon their sacred cause of Pornography will at last stimulate among our Clerks and Scribblers that Indignation and Outrage which, thus far, Aggression, Massacre, Rapine, Torture, and all the Crimes of Despotism have failed to provoke?
Tom Puzzle
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