3-052-512 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Election Sketches, 1880. 'Clerks, Canvassers and Messengers Wanted; Questioning a Candidate; Rival Bill Stickers; A Dissentient - "Turn Him Out"...The sharp practice of covering and effacing an adversary's placard on the wall, by affixing thereon the manifesto which one has undertaken to display for his opponent's cause, is not likely to have been confined to either side...it is still incumbent on the honourable or would-be honourable gentlemen...to...reiterate their thrice-told tale of Conservative or Liberal misdoings...A solitary dissentient, who raises his voice to utter a few words in correction of oratorical fallacies, will stand a pretty good chance of being treated with the favourite argument of popular majorities. "Turn him out!" The candidate who has professed his willingness to answer whatever questions any of the electors may wish to put to him, may have some difficulty, if the chairman is not up to his work, in replying to many at once, and we should recommend the plan which was adopted some years ago at Mr. John Stuart Mill's election meetings...It was then announced that the chairman would read aloud, one after another, all questions put in writing and sent up to the platform, and the candidate had to reply to them one by one'. From "Illustrated London News", 1880.