The political and occasional poems of Winthrop Mackworth Praed ::

“Ere our measures we move, our facts we must prove,”
Says the solemn official Goulburn;
And proceeds with grave face to establish his case,
Like a meagre octavo from Colburn:
Undertaking to show that a vigorous blow,
Struck home by the heads of the nation,
In the name of the Crown, ought at once to put down
The Catholic Association.

“Sir, they never were sent to misrepresent
Our counties, ports, boroughs and cities;

Yet they constantly ape our voice, manner and shape,
Standing orders and standing committees;
Self-convoked, self-returned, self-controlled, self-adjourned,
Without more than six weeks' vacation,
They make such a fuss, not a soul cares for Us:
This impudent Association!

“How freely they sent their Catholic “Rent”
(A Popish misnomer for taxing),
While Robinson burns at their easy returns
Who pocket the money for axing!
Very true, they're not willing to part with a shilling;
Their subscriptions are mere affectation,
By menaces made up—though readily paid up—
Hypocritical Association!

“Our reliance how just, that the law we could trust
For protecting our wives and our daughters—
Though we very well know, only three years ago
Ireland lay like a log on the waters!
What monsters are those, who dare interpose
In our criminal administration!
Though all the committed are tried—and acquitted;
What a culpable Association!

“Sir, turning from Law, we must listen with awe
To the sounds of confusion and riot;
But if all tamely sit, and in silence submit—
They are still more alarming when quiet!
Of all evils accurst, civil war is the worst,
And fiery insubordination!
Better bloodshed and rout, than a peace brought about
By this damnable Association!

“Sir, I hold that the priests are no better than beasts—
In spite of some trifling varieties;
And beg to disclaim all this fury and flame
On the part of the Bible Societies.
The Ass in the Fable was quite as much able
In Heaven to produce agitation,
As aught this side Hell—but the soul-shaking bell
Of the Catholic Association!

“Without throwing dirt, I most fully assert—
Contradict me who dare or who can, Sir—
That our foes are plunged in incompatible sin!
Let the votes of this House give the answer
Most humble, yet proudest—most silent, yet loudest—
The greatest—and least—in creation,

The strongest—the weakest, the fiercest—the meekest,
Is the Catholic Association.

“We must check by main force their dangerous course,
Put them down by the sword of the Law, Sir!
But if our Act fail, our mere wish will prevail,
And our enemies, bowing, withdraw—Sir!”
He ceased. Mr. Butterworth, a preacher from Lutterworth,
Stood as clerk to his clear predication;
Most pious of laymen, he groaned a grave Amen!
So good-night to the Association!

University of Virginia Library

VIII. WISDOM OF THE GREAT COUNCIL. I.