1-150-967 - The Cartoon Collector/Heritage-Images

'The Open Door!', 1885. Captain Moonlight, the representative of Irish anarchy, has his knife in his belt and his rifle in his hand as he steps through the open door. It had previously been barred by the Crimes Act (Ireland). This illustrates the expiry of the Act. The Conservative Home Secretary, Sir Michael Hicks Beach, alleged that the previous Liberal government had intended to remove a number of legislative procedures only applicable to Ireland. Gladstone said that they had intended to retain measures such as special juries and boycotting where necessary. It was feared that the lapse of this Act would lead to renewed violence in Ireland. From Punch, or the London Charivari, October 10, 1885.