"Frappez et frappez fort," as the Little Corporal used to express it; that is, if they are unable to get their grievances adjusted without some such extreme measure--of which there does not seem to be much likelihood at present, considering the reformatory tendencies of Jacks in office.
A strike, however, would soon bring the latter to reason, and show whether these subordinates were worth keeping on, or not! You don't believe it?
Ah! just wait and see! Fancy, the consternation at Carlton House Terrace, the dismay in Downing Street, some fine morning, when no clerks were forthcoming! Imagine the tons of correspondence awaiting answers, the acres of accounts to be audited, the minutes that would _not_ be made, the "submissions" that could _not_ go forward, the files that should have been docketed, and initialled, and stowed away uselessly till doomsday; and, that must, instead, remain untouched, uncared for! The Secretary of State might want valuable statistics, to answer some obstinate inquiring member in the House that very day, but, nobody could prepare them--to his default; and so, the inquiring member might make a cabinet question of it, and defeat the Government! The general commanding at the autumn manoeuvres might, perhaps, be in urgent need of footwarmers for the regiments under his charge; but, he couldn't get them, as no permanent clerk would be at the War Office to countersign his order! The channel fleet might all need refitting; but, none of them would be able to go into dock, as the Admiralty gentlemen--who only knew when their bottoms were last scraped--were not at their posts! In fact, every department--the Colonies, the Foreign Office, and each one else, would be topsy turvey; because, only the high sinecurists, who never did anything but sign their names to documents prepared by "those useless Government clerks," would be present to conduct the business of the country; and, _they_ would not have the remotest idea how to set to work, you know! The "Control Department" might, certainly be called on for help in the emergency; and then, we would probably have some more "queer things of the service" for a short time.
But, it couldn't last.

The whole official machinery would come to a dead stop.
You would then see the ardent reformers at their wits' ends; while, the honourable person who keeps the purse-strings of the ministry would be down on his marrow bones--entreating the ill-used and recalcitrant seceders to return to their employment, when "all would be forgiven;" and begging them, at the same time, to accept the increase to their salaries which they had demanded, as a token of his sincere regard and esteem! Before I became one of the staff of the Obstructor General's Office, I had not given the position of Government clerks a thought, excepting to look down upon them generally--as I have previously remarked, and as, indeed, most people are in the habit of doing who are unconnected with the service.
Now, however, that I was one of them, I was filled with the most thorough corps feeling.

Their ills were my ills; their hopes my hopes; and, such thoughts as I have noted were continually passing through my mind.
This is the case with most that are similarly employed.
I like men to believe in the special calling or profession they follow:--I do not think much of those who run down their trade .-- The latter are usually bad workmen, you'll find.
If I were a boot-black, to-morrow, I would, I am certain, lean to the delusion that the polishing of pedal integuments was the noblest sphere in life! Indeed, I have known many more extraordinary conversions than mine.
I've seen one of the most brutal and bloodthirsty of warriors settle down into an earnest preacher of the gospel.

I have heard a prize- fighter lecture on the atomic theory; and, I am acquainted with a violent radical demagogue "of the deepest dye," who, by means of a nice berth and a snug salary, has been turned into the most conservative of county magnates--looking upon all his former proceedings with horror, and a virtuous amazement that he could ever have been so led astray! So, you need not be surprised at my thus changing my sentiments.

In addition, I was new to the service; and, "new brooms sweep clean," we are told--although, the special work of the room in which I was placed at the office was not by any means of an interesting character.