3-065-637 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The General Election: Mr. Gladstone addressing the electors of Greenwich on Blackheath, [south-east London], 1874. 'The short, sharp electoral campaign was preceded, accompanied, and illustrated by several organised orations from distinguished public men. Thrice the Prime Minister tried his hand at what may be called mob-oratory in addressing open-air meetings at Greenwich, and of his speeches it may be said that in their adaptability to the situation they were good, better, best. As he went on, he exhibited more of the rough-and-ready quality which tribunes of the people should possess, in order featly to catch the ears and, if possible, the sympathies of those which in their main elements must be democrat assemblies. He even resorted considerably to humour, which, though rather grim and elephantine, served to produce that "laughter" which so relieves a speech'. From "Illustrated London News", 1874.