Ireland in Schools

A cartoon, 'The General election Game', Weekly Freeman, 28 November 1885

Description

Tories, Lord Salisbury and *Randolph Churchill and Liberals, William Gladstone and Joseph Chamberlain sit around a card table. Parnell (‘the Irish Chief’) is the dealer. Salisbury has been dealt a hand which includes the ‘Irish Vote.’

The election of 1885 has clearly left Parnell’s party in a strong position and this cartoon by John Fergus O’Hea seeks to parody the dilemma in which members of the British political
establishment find themselves as they court the support of the Irish Parliamentary Party.

Caption

The General Election Game
(The “Irish Chief” has just dealt the Cards.)
The Grand Old Man To “Brum” [Birmingham] Joe [Chamberlain] – “That is a poor
hand to ‘go on’ – he must have given those other fellows the Trump Card.”
Randy, to Salisbury – By Jingo! That is a ‘Nap’ [winning] hand. Go on the Irish
Card, and you must win.’

Check the date of the cartoon’s publication. To what issue or event is the cartoon referring?
Who is the cartoon aimed at?
What does the caption mean? Is it meant to be humorous or ironic?
Discuss the significance of the term ‘Irish Card’ in the caption.
How does the caption reinforce the cartoon’s primary message? Would you understand the cartoon’s message without the caption?
Does the cartoon clearly convey the desired message?