A New — Political and Reform Alphabet
A stands for Aristocrat, who nothing will do,
Who says they to work was not born;
And also the Adullamites, a double-faced crew,
The worst foes we have to Reform.
B stands for Beale, and likewise for Bright,
True Champions are of Reform;
So may good luck attend them by day and by night,
For nobly they battle the storm.
C stands for the Charter, and five points there are,
And by right they belong to us all;
Tho’ they’d fain keep them from us, seems pretty clear,
But we’ll gain them, my boys, or we’ll fall!
D stands for Derby, and also Dizzey,
Who talks large when there’s nothing to do;
Like parsons they say, you must do as they say,
But, mind you, don’t do as they do.
E stands for England, the land of the free,
The home of the true and the brave;
But our share of freedom is small, you’ll agree,
Though the song says we ne’er shall be slaves!
F stands for Franchise, it is our birthright,
So we want what is justly our due;
Tho’ the Tories they say, they will have their own way,
We’ll tell them, we’ll be damn’d if they do.
G stands for Gammon, and plenty we’ve had,
Till we are sick of that unstaple store;
But if they think to gammon us out of Reform,
They will find we’ll be gammoned no more.
H stands for Honour, there is some amongst thieves,
The saying goes that way I hear;
The Adullamites have none, it’s quite plain to me;
And the Tories have none for to spare.
I stands for Idlers, but none must be found,
Who wish for the success of our cause;
So boldly push forward, you’ll win I’ll be bound,
When it’s gained it is time for to pause.
J stands for Jacks, in office who are found,
To look on while honest men toil;
And they tidy sums get, to keep their mouths shut,
And blab not of the ill-gotten spoil.
K stands for Knight, and there many sorts are,
And some with the garter are deck’d;
Who instead round the leg, where the garter they wear,
Would look better if worn round the neck.
L stands for Lowe, both by nature and name,
And from Wiltshire he comes I tell you;
Who the workmen of England did vilely defame,
By calling them a drunken and ignorant crew.
M stands for Mayne, by some called Naughty Dick,
The chief of the Bluebottle mob;
Who in Hyde Park, they say, some queer cards did play,
Till at last he got one for his nob.
N stands for Nobles, and true nobles are they,
Who strive for their fellow-man’s good;
Not in luxury and idleness spend all their days,
Nor care to do good if they could.
O is an O, for nothing it stands,
And that is the working-man’s share;
Next to nothing he gets while he is here in this land,
And needs nothing when he leaves here.
P stands for Patience, so be not cast down,
My lads, nor give way to despair;
The sun shines on you, although the world frowns,
And good times must come it is clear.
Q stands for Question, and the Question is this,
Are Englishmen to gain their Rights?
Or must they labour like nameless serfs,
And allow Might to overcome Right?
R stands for Russell, and likewise Reform:
Then for Reform shout for ever;
For let come what may, we will clear the way,
For shall we be conquered? No, never!
S stands for Soap, some hard, and some soft,
So let’s say to our foes, just be steady;
Hard soap it is best, though it won’t well digest,
We’ve had enough of your soft soap already.
T stands for Tory, a set of greedy elves,
Who take all the loaves and the fishes;
They take all the fat of the land to themselves,
And give the poor man empty dishes.
U stands for Unity, which all of us need,
Which no power on earth can e’er sever;
It ensures a strong pull, while we give a long pull,
Then pull for Reform altogether.
V stands for Vultures, and many there are
Sit in St. Stephen’s, you’ll own;
If the poor man is starving and can’t get food for carving,
And asks for bread, they will give him a stone.
W stands for Workhouse, the poor man’s last home,
When by sickness or age is brought down,
Tho’ he’s toil’d all his life till he’s but skin and bone,
To uphold the mitre and crown.
X is a letter that looks like a cross,
An emblem of the working man’s life;
He has crosses enough, he finds to his cost;
If he dares for to ask for his rights.
Y stands for Yoke, the poor man must bear,
’Tis an odious badge of slavery to wear;
But never mind, boys! we will weather the storm,
And toast in a bumper, success to Reform!
Z stands for the Zeal the Reformers must use,
If they stick back and edge to gain what’s their dues.
Here is good luck to Gladstone, is now what I say,
Here’s the good cause Reform, for ever, huzza!
J. Embleton.
Disley, Printer, 57, High Street, St. Giles, London.