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Editorial
October 23, 1837
Morning Herald
New York, New York County, New York
What is this article about?
Satirical commentary on how English politicians from Liberal and Tory parties interpret Queen Victoria's actions to support their views, and how journalists fabricate her speeches and witty remarks for profit, portraying her as non-committal and likely liberal due to her upbringing.
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
THE ENGLISH QUEEN.-It is exceedingly amusing in watching the spirit of the English journals, to observe the use made of the Queen's name by politicians, news mongers, and paragraph makers. Victoria is, in the words of Peter Pindar, an excellent subject, as well as a good Queen.
With politicians, and those who live in the sunshine of Court favor, her every look is watched, and like the renowned principal character in Sheridan's Critic, there is immense meaning in the nod of her youthful head, or the shake of her juvenile ringlets.
The party-political papers go a great deal further. They not merely interpret her words and looks, smiles and frowns, but they interpret her very thoughts, and on this point they have both come to one conclusion; they agree to differ.
The Liberals-the Ministerial party, say the Queen is with them, and will remain so-that her heart has been nurtured in liberal principles, and that it loves them.
The Tories, per contra, say that the young Queen is a Conservative; but finding the Whigs in when she came to the throne, she will leave them there till she can turn them out with decency, if they do not save her the trouble, by turning themselves out.
From these statements, attested by anecdotes most authentic, of course, how is it possible to come to a correct conclusion ? Not by believing both, certainly; the best way is to believe neither.
The fact is, that the young Queen is, at present, as perfectly non-committal as our inimitable Kinderhook Martin Van Buren. From her tongue-let her sex cry jubilate, for she has puzzled the savants-no conclusion can be drawn. It is most probable, however, that under the care of so good and inestimable a parent as the Duchess of Kent--her young heart is so rich in those feelings of right justice and liberality, without tending to romantic flights, wild fancies, and startling theories- that the Tory policy will find little to share in common with her.
The most amusing portion of the interpretations is furnished by the news-mongers—the penny-a-liners-who have great reason to cry, "God save the Queen," since many of them have got not gin slings-the penny-a- liners in England, dont drink gin slings-but beer-beer and cold victuals, by her, who otherwise might have gone to bed supperless.
These gentlemen, even in the limited and confined views of parties and politicians, who generally base their interpretations upon some slight foundation, or some circumstance that can be twisted into a foundation—go the whole hog divinely—as a greater man than Mr. Samuel Weller has said-and give to the world speeches—villanous bon mots and jeux d'esprit of the Queen, without any foundation whatever, save that which has been laid in their stomachs by the cold victuals aforesaid. O, truly it is a great thing to be great, seeing that it is unnecessary even to speak, and that excellently good things can be manufactured for such in garrets, over a pot of "heavy wet," and sent into the world emblazoned with the face of royalty. This system, by the by, is not misunderstood here. We have poets and authors out of number, who walk like Gabriel Ravel when he is on stilts—with legs made for them by other persons. We are promising chickens, truly-- some of us!
With politicians, and those who live in the sunshine of Court favor, her every look is watched, and like the renowned principal character in Sheridan's Critic, there is immense meaning in the nod of her youthful head, or the shake of her juvenile ringlets.
The party-political papers go a great deal further. They not merely interpret her words and looks, smiles and frowns, but they interpret her very thoughts, and on this point they have both come to one conclusion; they agree to differ.
The Liberals-the Ministerial party, say the Queen is with them, and will remain so-that her heart has been nurtured in liberal principles, and that it loves them.
The Tories, per contra, say that the young Queen is a Conservative; but finding the Whigs in when she came to the throne, she will leave them there till she can turn them out with decency, if they do not save her the trouble, by turning themselves out.
From these statements, attested by anecdotes most authentic, of course, how is it possible to come to a correct conclusion ? Not by believing both, certainly; the best way is to believe neither.
The fact is, that the young Queen is, at present, as perfectly non-committal as our inimitable Kinderhook Martin Van Buren. From her tongue-let her sex cry jubilate, for she has puzzled the savants-no conclusion can be drawn. It is most probable, however, that under the care of so good and inestimable a parent as the Duchess of Kent--her young heart is so rich in those feelings of right justice and liberality, without tending to romantic flights, wild fancies, and startling theories- that the Tory policy will find little to share in common with her.
The most amusing portion of the interpretations is furnished by the news-mongers—the penny-a-liners-who have great reason to cry, "God save the Queen," since many of them have got not gin slings-the penny-a- liners in England, dont drink gin slings-but beer-beer and cold victuals, by her, who otherwise might have gone to bed supperless.
These gentlemen, even in the limited and confined views of parties and politicians, who generally base their interpretations upon some slight foundation, or some circumstance that can be twisted into a foundation—go the whole hog divinely—as a greater man than Mr. Samuel Weller has said-and give to the world speeches—villanous bon mots and jeux d'esprit of the Queen, without any foundation whatever, save that which has been laid in their stomachs by the cold victuals aforesaid. O, truly it is a great thing to be great, seeing that it is unnecessary even to speak, and that excellently good things can be manufactured for such in garrets, over a pot of "heavy wet," and sent into the world emblazoned with the face of royalty. This system, by the by, is not misunderstood here. We have poets and authors out of number, who walk like Gabriel Ravel when he is on stilts—with legs made for them by other persons. We are promising chickens, truly-- some of us!
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Partisan Politics
What keywords are associated?
Queen Victoria
English Politics
Liberals Tories
Press Fabrication
Political Satire
Non Committal Monarch
What entities or persons were involved?
Queen Victoria
Duchess Of Kent
Liberals
Tories
Martin Van Buren
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Satirical Critique Of Political And Press Misuse Of Queen Victoria's Image
Stance / Tone
Satirical Mockery
Key Figures
Queen Victoria
Duchess Of Kent
Liberals
Tories
Martin Van Buren
Key Arguments
Politicians Interpret The Queen's Looks And Actions To Fit Their Party Agendas
Liberals Claim She Supports Liberal Principles
Tories Believe She Is Conservative But Tolerating Whigs Temporarily
The Queen Is Non Committal, Similar To Van Buren
Her Upbringing Suggests Leanings Toward Justice And Liberality, Not Tory Policy
Journalists Fabricate Speeches And Witty Remarks For The Queen To Sell Stories