AN APT COMPARISON.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1267, 10 April 1878, Page 3

AN APT COMPARISON.

Is there (writes the Poverty Bay “Standard”) any material difference, excepting in the phraseology, between the sentiments uttered by Sir George Grey, when on the stump, and those expressed by Mr Rogers in one of Boz’s admirable sketches : “You, gentlemen,” said the red-faced man, “ are the best judges on that point; but this I will say, when I came into this parish, and first used this room, ten years ago, I don’t believe there was one man in it, who knew he was a slave —and now you all know it, and writhe under it. Inscribe that upon my tomb, and I am satisfied.” “ Why, as to inscribing it on your tomb,” said a little greengrocer with a chubby face, “of course you can have anything chalked up, as you likes to pay for, so far as it relates to yourself and your affairs ; but, when you come to talk about slaves, and that there abuse, you’d better keep it in the family, ’cos I for one don’t like to be called them names, night after night.” “ You are a slave,” said the red-faced man, “ and the most pitiable of all slaves.” “ Werry hard if I am,” interrupted the greengrocer, “ for I got ro good out of the twenty million that was paid for ’mancipation, anyhow.” “A willing slave,” ejaculated the rod-faced man, getting more red with eloquence and contradiction—“resigning the dearest birthright of jour children—neglecting the sacred call of Liberty—who, standing imploringly before you, appeals to the warmest feelings of your heart, and points to your helpless infants, but in vain,” “ Prove it,” said the greengrocer.” “ Provo it!” sneered the man with the red face. “ What! bending beneath the yoke of an insolent and factious oligarchy; bowed down by the domination of cruel laws; groaning beneath tyranny and oppression on every hand, at every side, and in every corner. Prove it! —” The red-faced man abruptly broke off, sneered melodramatically, and buried his countenance and his indignation together, in a quart pot. We have only got to substitute the name of Grey for Rogers (leaving out the quart pot) and in Rogers’s speech we have one from our Premier.