A History of Parliamentary Elections and Electioneering 76

A History of Parliamentary Elections and Electioneering 76

“Sindbad the _Sailor_ and the Old Man of the Sea!” (_vide_ fifth

voyage, June 8, 1833) was published after the dissolution. William

IV. is, of course, the marvellous traveller, and the incubus he has

submitted to get settled on his shoulders is the reforming premier,

Lord Grey.

 

That parliamentary reform, though commenced, was by the extreme

party considered but an imperfect measure, is pictorially illustrated

in various designs by HB; for instance, the elusive “Time” is shown

running away with the great Whig Reform Bill, and Lord Althorp is

seen tearing after the vanishing roll, crying, “Stop thief!” He

has the _Times_ in his pocket, presumably the organ by which John

Bull’s course was piloted, and is vainly trying to come up with the

departing thief and his measure, one tiny corner Lord Althorp has torn

off, “Schedule A,” and that promises to be all he can save from the

abduction.

 

[Illustration: SINDBAD THE SAILOR AND THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA. JUNE 8,

1833. BY J. DOYLE (HB).]

 

Another version, also by Doyle, embodies in graphic form the views of

the root-and-branch reformers; a grand trio of Sir Francis Burdett,

then a prominent Radical; Joseph Hume, who was all for economic reform,

in which important branch he has left no true successor; and Daniel

O’Connell, a most important factor in his time, whose covert designs

were nothing less than “Repeal.” These gentlemen, who were among the

most conspicuous politicians of their day, are linked arm-in-arm as

the “Three Great Pillars of Government; or, A Walk from White Conduit

House to St. Stephen’s” (July 23, 1834); published under the same

auspices of Thomas McLean, at the Haymarket Gallery, as the other

examples of Doyle’s satirical ability reproduced in this summary. Sir

Francis Burdett is with much spirit advocating “Equal Representation

and Annual Parliaments--and _that_ (a snap of the fingers) for the

Borough-mongers.” Hume is applauding this resolute front: “Bravo! and

Cheap Government;” to which Daniel O’Connell is adding, “And Universal

Suffrage, and Vote by BALLOT, eh?” with, as a supplement, in a

very small whisper, “A Repeal of the Union.”

 

When another general election occurred, the situation of honest John

Bull was figured as that of a stout gentleman wishing to be carried

on his road, but distracted as to the conveyance he must choose. The

Tory ’bus stands contrasted with the new reform steam vehicle, which is

crowded with experimentalists. “The Opposition ‘Busses” is the title

of this version, also due to HB. The Duke of Wellington is trying to

secure John Bull for his old coach, which does not seem much patronized.

 

“Don’t trust ’em, Sir, and their new-fangled machinery. Can’t

get on at all without being kept in constant hot water, and

sure to blow up in the end; with us you’ll be much more safe

and comfortable,--careful driver, steady train’d horses, and

rate of going much faster than formerly.”

 

[Illustration: Sir Francis Burdett.

 

Joseph Hume.

 

Daniel O’Connell.

 

THREE GREAT PILLARS OF GOVERNMENT; OR, A WALK FROM WHITE CONDUIT HOUSE

TO ST. STEPHEN’S.

 

JULY 23, 1834. BY J. DOYLE (HB).

 

[_Page 376._]

 

Sir Robert Peel is the coachman. Steam-coaches were fashionable

novelties in 1834; the uncomfortable-looking, nondescript new

conveyance, with its steam up, is crowded with statesmen. O’Connell,

Lord Melbourne, Lord John Russell, and Lord Palmerston are

distinguishable. Hume is touting for his new invention:--

 

“You are not such a silly Chiel as to go with them old screws?

Eh, you’ll never get to your journey’s end. Ours is the new

grand-junction Steam Omnibus, constructed upon scientific and

feelosophical principles--warranted to go at race-horse speed,

and no stopping.”

 

[Illustration: DESIGN FOR THE KING’S ARMS, TO BE PLACED OVER THE NEW

SPEAKER’S CHAIR. FEB. 17, 1835. BY J. DOYLE (HB).]

 

With the renovated and redressed Constitution, the wits hinted that

novel accessories would be in request, and that the insignia of

regality would also have to be revised. Such a suggestion is offered

in Doyle’s “Original Design for the King’s Arms, to be placed over the

_New_ Speaker’s Chair,” where old Cobbett, late “Peter Porcupine,”

the persistent agitator, who obtained a seat in Parliament after the

passing of the Reform Bill, is playfully substituted as the British

Lion; and the high-bred Sir Francis Burdett, who, as is seen in these

electioneering illustrations, had so long figured before the public

as a Radical reformer, and was now beginning to turn to the Tory

interest, is usurping the position in the royal escutcheon generally

appropriated to the fabled unicorn.

 

The advent of the ballot was not ardently desired by the Tories, and

it was hinted that the consequences of its introduction would entail

such inconveniences as are figured in the two illustrations here

given, rather implying that violence and coercion would henceforth be

unavailing, and that, as bribery would be in vain also, administrative

corruptors would prefer to make a more legitimate use of their money.

 

A ballad of the “broadside” order appeared upon “The Windsor Election”

of 1835. As a genuine rough-and-ready production, called forth by

the circumstances of the contest, and embodying the names of the

candidates, it is worth preserving as typical of thousands of similar

ballads, which have in all probability perished from the bills of

mortality.

 

“What a wonderful thing’s an Election!

It sets all the people alive;

And makes them all busy and nimble,

Like so many bees in a hive.

’Tis then the nobs learn to be civil,

And get all their lessons by rote;

With ‘How do you do? Honest friend,

I’m come to solicit your vote.’

 

“There’s enough of that humbug just now,

To be seen in a neighbouring town,

Where the voters don’t scruple to say

The whole will be dear for a _Crown_.

They’re professing to canvass for truth,

Which all honest folks must deny,

For ’tis plain as the nose on your face,

They’ll gammon you all with--_a-lie_.[72]

 

“Then, to think of that corporate body,

All their mind on the thing is agog;

They’ll be gammon’d as surely by him

As they formerly were with their hog.

Just fancy that day at the hustings,

You see that comical crop,

The old soldier playing first fiddle

To the tune of the Bachelor’s Hop.

 

“When they’ve scrap’d and fiddled away,

And find little company come,

The Fiddler will soon bag his kit,

And then the day’s work will be done.

The people may think this is wise (Vyse),

But the thing will be well understood,

For a man to fiddle all day

Should be made of cast iron or wood (Col. Wood).

 

“Now to see the phizogs of this crew,

As they travel away cheek-by-jowl,

Led on by old Dot-and-go-one,

A-scratching the head _of his poll_.

At the warmints he’s storming and raving,

And wishing ’em all at the Devil,

Whilst Sir John,[73] and the rest of his staff,

Are cursing the Bachelor’s Revel.

 

“Success to Sir John de Beauvoir,

He’s a man that is loyal and true,

He’ll strangle that monster--corruption,

And live to bury him, too.

Whilst the ghost of old Elley, in pity,

To the Corporate body will come,

In a vision, with two bags of money,

On the back of old Dot-and-go one.”

 

[Illustration: INCONVENIENCES THAT MIGHT HAVE ARISEN FROM THE BALLOT.

BY G. SEYMOUR.

 

[_Page 378._

 

DUKE OF WELLINGTON.--“Yes, my Lord, fifty thousand

pounds expended, four-fifths of the votes promised, and yet the

Election lost!”

 

LORD ELDON.--“Oh, horrible!!”]

 

[Illustration: INCONVENIENCES THAT MIGHT HAVE ARISEN FROM THE BALLOT.

BY G. SEYMOUR.

 

[_Page 378._

 

“GIPSY-BOY” BLUDGEON-MEN.--“Arn’t we Gipsy-Boys to be

your Bullies this Election, my Lord--if you want anything done,

we arn’t at all partickler what it is?”

 

FIRST LORD.--“No; I’ve got no use for you now!”]