1-150-588 - The Cartoon Collector/Heritage-Images

Where's The (Irish) Police?, 1870. This cartoon relates to Ireland's recent rise in the levels of agrarian crime and Mr Gladstone muses on whether or not he should take any action. Mr Gladstone, dressed in the contemporary uniform of a chief constable, leans against a wall, with his gun resting beside him. In the background, Irish militants fight bitter battles, and set fire to private property. In fact, a Coercion Bill was put before parliament just a week or so after this cartoon was published in Punch. It was entitled The Peace Preservation (Ireland) Bill and eventually completed its passage through parliament only three weeks later. From Punch, or the London Charivari, March 12, 1870.