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- This cartoon was published in the Dublin journal Lepracaun in October
1906. The Lepracaun was a journal that commented on events in the news.
It supported John Redmond's policy of Home Rule for Ireland, to be achieved
by constitutional methods.
- The main figure in the cartoon is John Redmond. He was the leader
of the Irish Parliamentary Party. This party was formed in the 1880s
and was supported by the Catholic majority of the population of Ireland.
Redmond wanted Home Rule for Ireland. This meant that Ireland would
get its own Parliament and rule itself, but would still be part of the
United Kingdom.
- In 1886 and 1893 the British Parliament voted on whether to give Ireland
Home Rule. They rejected it both times because they thought it might
cause the break up of the British empire and because there was a large
minority in Ireland (Unionists) who wanted the country to remain part
of the United Kingdom.
- The Irish Parliamentary Party split in the early 1890s over who should
lead it. However, from the late 1890s into the early 1900s Redmond reorganised
and united the party. He was able to get the Irish MPs to work together
to campaign for Home Rule.
- The figure serving Redmond is John Bryce, Chief Secretary for Ireland.
He was the minister in charge of Ireland. In 1906 the Liberal Party
won the elections in Britain after many years of rule by the Conservatives.
That is why he talks about his house being 'not long opened'.
- In 1906 the British government offered a number of measures to the
Irish Nationalists. These included a Catholic university, greater control
of education in Ireland and control of farming and land. This would
be run by a Representative Council, which would be partly appointed
by the British government and partly elected. The British hoped that
this would satisfy Irish Nationalists.
- However, as this cartoon shows, Redmond regarded the British
plans as ‘half measures’.
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