The herald., 1894-04-02
A MODERN JACK cADs.


When Judge Conrad of the Quaker
city, influenced by = warm personal
friendship for Edwin Forrest. wrote the
tragedy of Jack Cade, or the Kentish
Rebellion, he did not dream that his
hero would ind an imitation within the
next half century, and in the person
of an Ohio stallion keeper. But it now
seems that the famous Kentish warrior
who was first known as "Aylmer, the
bondman," was only premature Coxey,
after all.
The Jack Cade of history and the one
described by Shakespeare in the second
part of King Henry VI. are hardly one
and ths same person; and it is quite
evident to US that the Philadelphia
! jurisconsult drew portrait of the Kent
ish rebel far better in accordance with
history than the one created by the
Bard of Avon. But then, this is easily
to be accounted for. Shakespeare, five
generations after that socislistic revolt,
was writing under the patronage of a
naughty and tyrannical queen, whose
family built up its prosperity upon the
ruin of the dynasty of York; and hence
it was not good policy in Shakespeare to
de Jack Cads impartial justice.
There was never rebellion in all the
history OF the world possessing such
singular features as that headed By
Master Jack Csde. The plants of the
insurgents were. for the greater part,
political in character. Only one class
reform was ssked-a repeal of the op-
pressive and cruel statute relating to
lsborers. The rest were merely demands
for economic and political reforms, sue b
as a change of ministry, more careful
handling of finances, and restoration
OF the duke of York to the roval favor.
True, when this band of sturdy yeomen
reached London they were guilty OF
ruffianiy acts, and it was from those
acts that the man of Stratiord, nearly
l20 years later, got his mistaken ideas
of Cade and his character.
If Csde WAS a rougher, ruder ani less
polished individual than the Massillon
"atudhoss' man, it was because the
world was younger and he lived in a lees
enlightened age. The Ohio Jack Cade
in his seductive spssches to the army"
is less radical than the platform OF
principles enunciated on Blackheath by
his Ksntish prototype when he said
There shall be in England seven half
penny loaves sold for penny; the
three-hooped pot shall have ten hoops /;
ard l will make it ieIony to drink small
beer. All the realm shall be in COM
mon, and in Oneapslde shall my palfrey
go to grass" Whilst this declaration of
several centuries ago would fit the lips
OF the chief OF the Ohio" army" which is
marching upon Washington gith all the
pronounced hunger and thirst OF Sher-
mans bummers, but none Of their
stolid courage, he has not announced
his grievances so tersely.
Upt Shakespeare time paper money
was unknown in England, but Coxey
virtually pictures Cadets idea of fat
currency whsn the latter ays: There
shall be 10 money-all shall eat al !
drink on my score" Cade fcreshadowed
the theory that it is brutal to enforce
contract, because be declares it "a la
mentable thing that the skin OF an in.
nocent lamb should be made psrch-
ment; that parchment, being scribbled
over, should undo a man."
His ideas of government were more
clearly depicted, however, after he and
his men had captured London and made
themselves at home, for he Gays
Away, burn the records of the realm /;
my mouth shall be the parliament OF
England, and henceforth all things
shall be in common" In these two
acts of Henry VI are EN- bodied all the
vital principles of communism. There
we're no political cranks to be conciliated
in Henry's time nor in Elizabeth's, for
that matter; and no Marion Cannons to
| obtain postoffices for their sons-in law,
by failing down" upon their constitu-
ents; but the refulgent genius of Shake
speare beheld events from afar off with
/ claar and nrnnhatic eve