1-150-699 - The Cartoon Collector/Heritage-Images

Will He Clear It?, 1873. The horse being ridden by Liberal Prime Minister, Mr Gladstone, approaches the stone wall entitled Irish Education. He has already cleared similar walls entitled Irish Land, and Irish Church. Irish affairs had certainly occupied much of Gladstone's time in office but this particular cartoon relates to Gladstone's attempts to push through his Irish University Bill. This was intended to remove religious discrimination from education, but was thoroughly opposed by the various religious factions, particularly by Irish Catholics. Gladstone's subsequent defeat by three votes is reflected in a similar cartoon entitled 'Come a Cropper'. From Punch, or the London Charivari, February 15, 1873.