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Cartoon, The Rival Conductors (Electoral Reform)
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Cartoon, The Rival Conductors (Electoral Reform)
Cartoon, The Rival Conductors -- a satirical comment on electoral reform, as represented by Gladstone (Liberal, left) and Disraeli (Conservative, right). Mrs Britannia (in the likeness of the late reforming Liberal politician Richard Cobden) is trying to decide which bus to get on. Dizzy reassures her/him: " Better go with us... we re going just as far as he does!" Disraelis bus is marked ALL THE WAY, suggesting a generous extension to the suffrage. Ironically, though, it did not include women. Date: 1867
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Media ID 23361428
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1867 Benjamin Bill Comment Commons Conservative Details Disraeli Electoral Extend Franchise Liberal Parliament Power Reform Satire Satirical Tory Voting Westminster 1860s
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The Rival Conductors: A Satirical Comment on Electoral Reform in Victorian Britain (Cartoon, "The Rival Conductors -- Electoral Reform," 1867) This intriguing political cartoon, titled "The Rival Conductors -- Electoral Reform," was published in 1867 during the height of the electoral reform debates in Victorian Britain. The cartoon satirically depicts two rival conductors, representing the Liberal and Conservative parties, vying for the support of Mrs. Britannia, who symbolizes the British public. The late reforming Liberal politician Richard Cobden is portrayed in her likeness. In the image, Disraeli, the Conservative leader, reassures Mrs. Britannia, "Better go with us... we're going just as far as he does!" His bus, marked "ALL THE WAY," suggests a generous extension to the suffrage. However, the irony lies in the fact that Disraeli's proposed reforms did not include women in the voting population. Gladstone, the Liberal leader, stands on the other side, offering a less enticing but more honest promise. His bus, labeled "PARLIAMENT," is marked with the words "VOTING REFORM BILL," signifying the Liberal Party's commitment to extending the franchise to the working man. This cartoon provides a fascinating glimpse into the political climate of the time, highlighting the intense competition between the two major parties as they sought to win public favor through their electoral reform proposals. The image also underscores the complexities of the electoral reform debates and the ongoing struggle for greater representation and political power in Victorian Britain.
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