TO THE QUEEN LORD TENNYSON (Dedication of Her Laureate's Poems) QUEEN VICTORIA's reign of sixty-four years is the longest in English history. It was rendered glorious by the maintenance of peace with European powers, by the development of vast colonial possessions, by wise laws intended to promote the people's rights, and by the furtherance of education and popular welfare. The Queen's ministers were men who had the confidence of the nation and they were guided by the nation's will as expressed in the House of Commons. In all their beneficent work, they had the sympathetic coöperation of Victoria. Revered, beloved - O you that hold Than arms, or power of brain or birth Victoria, since your royal grace To one of less desert allows This laurel greener from the brows And should your greatness, and the care Then while a sweeter music wakes, The sun-lit almond-blossom shakes — Take, Madam, this poor book of song; And leave us rulers of your blood May children of our children say, "And statesmen at her council met Who knew the seasons, when to take The bounds of freedom wider yet "By shaping some august decree, CHARTIST SONG THOMAS COOPER No sooner were the Napoleonic wars at an end than the English people began to demand for themselves such privileges as the French had won. First of all, they asked for power to send representatives to the House of Commons in order that they might have some share in the making of the laws. The substance of their demands was formulated in the People's Charter and the reformers were therefore called Chartists. By 1832, popular agitation had become so vigorous and so persistent that Parliament dared no longer resist. The first Reform Act was passed in that year. The right of electing representatives to the House of Commons was taken away from the rotten boroughs and given to a number of towns that had never been allowed this privilege. Moreover, the right of voting at town elections was extended to all householders. The people's representatives succeeded in carrying through some much needed reforms. The time shall come when wrong shall end, The time shall come when the artisan Shall homage no more the titled man; Toil, brothers, toil, till the work is done, The time shall come when the weavers' band The time shall come when man shall hold Shall sever no more from human-kind. The time has come when kingly crown Toil, brothers, toil, till the world is free, The time shall come when earth shall be When the slaughterous sword is drawn no more, Toil, brothers, toil, till the world is free, THE BARONS BOLD WILLIAM JOHNSON FOX THE Chartists were not satisfied with the measure of representation accorded the people by the Reform Act of 1832 and demanded manhood suffrage. On April 6, 1848, twenty-five thousand men assembled on Kennington Common, south of the Thames, determined to carry to the House of Commons a monster petition that the Charter should immediately be granted. The magistrates were greatly alarmed and made elaborate preparations for the defence of the city. The Chartists were unarmed and dared not meet the troops, so the great demonstration came to nothing. But suffrage has since been given to every householder in town and country alike, and the people have to-day sufficient influence in the House of Commons to carry any measure for which they make a united demand. The Barons bold on Runnymede By union won their charter; True men were they, prepar'd to bleed, And they prov'd that freedom's cause The memory Of those Barons brave united; And like their band, Join hand to hand : Our wrongs shall soon be righted. The Commons brave, in Charles's time, The memory Of those Commons brave, united; And like their band, Join hand to hand: Our wrongs shall soon be righted. The People firm, from Court and Peers, By union won Reform, sirs, |