A History of Parliamentary Elections and Electioneering 79

A History of Parliamentary Elections and Electioneering 79

A touching allegory for a rejected candidate was furnished by HB over

these same elections. “As You like It” (July 31, 1837). The wounded and

solitary deer which has come down to the brook, presents the lachrymose

countenance of Roebuck; the shaft which has caused his tears is marked

“Bath.” Lord John Russell, as the “Melancholy Jacques,” is, from the

other side of the water, soliloquizing over the Roebuck’s fate.

 

Dr. Bowring is favoured with a place in Doyle’s portrait-gallery, as

“The Rejected of Kilmarnock” (August 21, 1837).

 

Another defeat at the general election forms food for HB’s playful

irony. This time it is Joseph Hume rejected by Middlesex: “Figurative

Representation of the Late Catastrophe” (August 31, 1837). The

Middlesex balloon is sailing majestically out of reach; the gentleman

thrown out is descending at a fine pace; Joseph Hume’s parachute is

blown inside out, and he is ejaculating in his fall, “Now, unless some

friendly dunghill receives me, I am lost for ever.” Below him are the

green plains of Erin, and the spot on which the discomfited aeronaut is

descending is shown to be Kilkenny.

 

Daniel O’Connell pretty generally seems the master of the situation in

the impressions we get of the big Liberator in Doyle’s admirable and

genially humorous cartoons. In another aspect of the 1837 election,

published at the same date, the great Dan is installed as passenger and

traffic manager at the metropolitan head-quarters of the new railway.

“Great Western General Booking Office” (August 31st) shows those

gentlemen who have been so unfortunate as to miss their seats besieging

O’Connell for fresh places, “Gentlemen,” he cries, with good-natured

desire to assist all, “we are all full; but, if you will only wait for

the next train, we shall, I have no doubt, be able to accommodate you

all with seats.” The best-known of the rejected ones are clamouring

round the counter: “I am afraid we are thrown out for the present,”

says one; while Dr. Bowring “the rejected of Kilmarnock,” is of

opinion, “It seems there is a screw loose somewhere in their principal

engine.” Roebuck stands first of the unfortunates; his slight luggage

is “at the end of his stick;” Hume, carpet-bag in hand, has secured a

ticket, and is departing--evidently with grave misgivings--to Kilkenny.

Emerson Tennent and Sir James Graham are standing at the door of the

office.

 

The ultimate reception of Hume by Kilkenny is set forth by the same

hand: “Shooting Rubbish” (August 31, 1837). Dan O’Connell, habited as

an Irish peasant, has brought Hume on a hay-trolley to a thatched cabin

marked “Kilkenny;” he is gently lowered on to a heap by the wayside,

where, according to a notice-board, “Rubbish may be shot.” “I think,”

says Dan, “that is letting you down nice and easy.” Hume is grateful

for the opportune assistance: “Thank ye, friend; should you ever have

occasion to come to the North, I’ll endeavour to do as much for you.”

 

Parliament was not summoned until November 15, 1837; in the interval,

Doyle produced two or three ingenious cartoons summarizing the

situation. One of the best of these represents the field of contest

like the preceding versions; it is entitled, “Retzsch’s Extraordinary

Design of Satan playing at Chess with Man for his Soul, copied by HB

in his freest manner” (September 29, 1837). The Great Dan takes the

place of the evil one, the skull and cross-bones are mounted as his

ensign, and he is evidently master of the board. “Man” is personated

by Lord Melbourne, who is evidently in perplexity as to his next move.

Britannia is personifying man’s good angel, and she is pitifully

regarding the loser.

 

“A Game at Chess (again): the Queen in Danger” is another version of

the situation in the recess. This appeared October 20, 1837, with the

quotation, “A change came o’er the spirit of my dream.” The youthful

sovereign is matched against Lord Palmerston. The Queen’s political

tutor and adviser, Lord Melbourne, is standing behind the chair of

his royal mistress. Lord Palmerston has put the Queen in jeopardy;

Her Majesty is evidently anxious, but fails to master the right move.

Melbourne sees the situation, and looks on with some excitement, but is

enjoined by Palmerston to refrain from prompting his royal pupil’s play.

 

This situation is further exemplified in two later cartoons: “Susannah

and the Elders” (October 27, 1837), in which the Queen is riding

between Lords Melbourne and Palmerston; the spot appears to be

Brighton, near the Pavilion, then a royal residence. The other version

is borrowed from the popular farce, “High Life below Stairs (inverted),

as lately performed at Windsor by Her Majesty’s servants” (October 31,

1837). The Queen is seen, seated on a sofa, but partly screened from

view by a curtain. Lord Melbourne, who makes a handsome “my lord duke,”

is monopolizing the youthful beauty; he observes to Lord Palmerston,

who is also in livery, with a cockade--“Stand off; you are a Commoner.

Nothing under nobility approaches Kitty.” Lord Palmerston is not

overawed by these exclusive pretensions; as a representative of the

Commons, he seizes his advantage,--“And what becomes of your dignity,

if we refuse the supplies?”

 

A pungent epitome of the incidents of electioneering is thus set forth

by an anonymous poetaster:--

 

 

“ELECTION DAY-A SKETCH FROM NATURE.

 

“THE HUSTINGS.

 

“Now, hail ye, groans, huzzas, and cheers,

So grateful to electors’ ears,

Where all is riot and confusion,

Fraud, friendship, scandal, and delusion;

Now houses stormed, and windows broken,

Serve as a pastime and a token

That patriots spare not, in their zeal,

Such measures for their country’s weal.

Now greeting, hooting, and abuse,

To each man’s party prove of use;

And mud, and stones, and waving hats,

And broken heads, and putrid cats,

Are offerings made to aid the cause

Of order, government, and laws.

Now lampoons, idle tales, and jokes,

And placards overreach and hoax;

While blustering, bullying, and brow-beating,

A little pommeling, and maltreating,

And elbowing, jostling, and cajoling,

And all the jockeyship of polling,

And deep manœuvre and duplicity,

Prove all elections fair and free;

While _Scandalum Magnatum’s_ puzzled,

And lawless libel raves unmuzzled.”

 

 

“THE CHAIRING.

 

“And now the members, by freeholders,

Are mounted on the rabble’s shoulders,

To typify, that willing backs

Are made for any sort of Tax,

And kindly sent, prepared by fate,

To bear the burthens of the State.

But that elections to the mob

Might prove a right good merry job,

Down from the waving laurel bower

Descends the glittering silver shower,

And, thus, with open-handed fee,

Meant as a check to bribery,

Each new-made Senator is willing,

By many a sixpence and a shilling,

To compromise for thumps and bruises,

For broken heads and bloody noses;

For damage done by sticks and stones,

For pockets picked, and broken bones.”

 

One of the best pictures of a country election is due to the muse of

John Sterling; a few stanzas will not be found out of place:--

 

 

“THE ELECTION.

 

“A POEM IN SEVEN BOOKS.

 

“Cox represented Aleborough, patriot pure,

On whose tried firmness Europe leant secure,

But, woe to manufactures, land, and stocks!

Europe and Aleborough could not rescue Cox.

At London’s Mansion House, the Poultry’s pride,

Cox in his country’s service din’d and died.

 

* * * * *

 

A new election! Glory to the town!

For all there’s profit, and for some renown.

‘The Lion’ opes his hungry jaws, and springs;

And ‘The Black Bear’ seems dancing as he swings.

Before an hour the Patriot Blues are met;

Though Cox is gone, the Cause shall triumph yet,

The sacred cause of right; till it prevails,

The Universe hangs trembling in the scales.

‘The Lion’ for the Blues! our flag’s unfurled,

And Mogg, instead of Cox, shall awe the world.

The big placard, with thunder in its look,

Glares like a page from Destiny’s own book;

The drums and trumpets hired augment their zeal

By strong potations till inspired they reel;

The chaises three, and omnibus immense,

Display ‘the Lion’s’ whole munificence;

And Mogg’s committee-men, a Spartan few,

To save the sinking State would die True Blue.

 

* * * * *