RARE 1872 British Cartoon - IRELAND: Galway Election Controversy

Description: Source: PUNCH Magazine, June 8, 1872. Illustrated by Sir John Tenniel. Page size 8 X 10 1/2 inches, including margins. Original vintage pulled from the magazine. Condition: very good -- light age toned paper, clean, otherwise, no handling wear, page lays flat for easy framing; backside is blank. ST. PATRICK FOR GALWAY! "For once, the law has proved stronger than mob violence, and a heavy blow has been dealt at the political tyranny of the priesthood." --The Times, on Mr. Justice Keogh's judgement. BACKGROUND:The Galway County by-election of 1872 was held on 8 February 1872. The byelection was held due to the resignation of the incumbent MP of the Liberal Party, William Henry Gregory, as he became Governor of Ceylon. It was won by the Home Rule candidate John Philip Nolan but this was overturned on petition. Nolan beat his opponent, William Le Poer Trench, the third son of the Earl of Clancarty, winning by a large majority. Of the 4,686 available electors, who were chiefly Catholic, 2,823 voted for Nolan and 658 for Le Poer Trench. Le Poer Trench appealed the result, claiming on petition that there was widespread intimidation during the election campaign. The local Catholic bishops and clergy had strongly supported Nolan, chiefly because the Clancartys were active in proselytism. The trial of the Galway County election petition was held before Judge William Keogh, a Catholic and former MP for the pro Home-Rule Independent Irish Party. The trial started on 1 April and ended on 21 May 1872. Keogh found that Nolan had been elected by the undue influence and intimidation.In his report stated that he found 36 persons guilty of undue influence and intimidation, including the Archbishop John MacHale, the Archbishop of Tuam, the Bishop of Clonfert, Patrick Duggan, and the Bishop of Galway, John McEvilly, and twenty-nine named priests, the majority of Catholic parish priests in the constituency. They were held to have used all influence to overthrow all free will. A special case decided that notices put up by Le Poer Trench alerting voters to Nolan's previous involvement in treating were sufficient to inform voters that he was disqualified.The findings were that there was an undue election as there had been treating, undue influence and that the candidate was disqualified as he had previously been guilty of corrupt practices. As a result, Captain Nolan was unseated on 13 June, the seat going to Captain Le Poer Trench.The judgement caused an uproar; the judge was threatened with removal from the bench and his reputation never recovered. Nolan retook the seat at the 1874 election. He remained MP after the 1885 constituency reforms as MP for Galway North until 1895.Over 3,000 Punch cartoons listed for sale, combine orders and save shipping charges. Questions are always welcome. WHO IS THE ARTIST?:Sir John Tenniel (1820 –1914) was an English illustrator, graphic humorist and political cartoonist prominent in the second half of the 19th century. Tenniel is remembered mainly as the principal political cartoonist for Punch magazine for over 50 years and for his illustrations to Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There (1871).WHAT IS PUNCH? Punch, a magazine of humor and satire, ran from 1841-2002. A very British institution renowned internationally for its wit and irreverence, it helped to coin the term "cartoon" in its modern sense as a humorous illustration. Punch was the world's most celebrated magazine of wit and satire. From its early years as a campaigner for social justice to its transformation into national icon, Punch played a central role in the formation of British identity -- and how the rest of the world saw the British nation. In its formative years Punch combined humors, illustration and political debate with a fresh and radical audacity. During its heyday in the late 1800s, it reflected the conservative views of the growing middle-classes and copies of it could be found in the libraries of diplomats, cabinet ministers and even royalty. In the Western world, Punch played a significant role in the development of satire. In the world of illustration, it practically revolutionized it. Over the decades as it charted the interests, concerns and frustrations of the country and today it stands as an invaluable source of cartoon art, satire, but as primary source material for historians.

Price: 16.95 USD

Location: Milton, Vermont

End Time: 2025-01-22T22:52:09.000Z

Shipping Cost: 6.95 USD