THE NEW POET LAUREATE’S GUILT.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVI, Issue XIII, 28 March 1896, Page 348

THE NEW POET LAUREATE’S GUILT.

What I want to know now (writes Mr Labouchere in Truth) is whether the poet Austin is going to be put on his trial along with Dr. Jameson and the other participators in the ‘ ride ’ lauded in the verses published by the Times last Saturday. Jameson, according to Sir Hercules Robinson, was ordered in the Queen’s name to return. He replied that the message would be ‘ attended to.’ and at once ordered his men to saddle and ride towards the Boers. From the point of view of an Alhambra audience this may have been a very fine and noble thing to do, but it was a flat defiance of the Queen and her Government ; and if it had not ended in disastrous failure it must have exposed the country and the empire to incalculable complications and danger. Ordinary poets are, of course, at liberty to write Jingo verses to raise cheers in the music halls without regard to their political significance. But an official rhymester, paid so much a year to sing the praise and glory of Her Majesty and her Government, though he may privately approve of any act of rebellion against the Crown or of piracy against the Queen’s allies, can hardly be allowed to express such sentiments in his public capacity. This should at once be explained to the poet Austin, and if he is not prepared to confine his heroics in future to such events as the birth of Royal babies or the reception of foreign potentates, he should be required to give up his 30s a week to some more loyal bardlet.