In British politics, Jingo is a name applied to men or a party desirous of engaging in a foreign war. The term acquired this meaning during the political campaign of 1877, when there was loud talk in England of war with Russia on behalf of the Turks or really for the custody of the Hellespont. A favorite campaign doggerel of the conservatives was the following:
We don't want to fight;
But, by jingo, if we do,
We've got the ships,
We've got the men,
We've got the money, too.
The term "Jingo" is now applied in any country to those whose patriotism consists mainly in threatening other countries.
