This is an English cartoon on Daniel O’Connell and his supporters – ‘Catholic Petitioners [campaigners] or Symptoms [signs] of a Peaceable Appeal’ – published in 1828, during the campaign for Catholic Emancipation.
The cartoonist is opposed to O’Connell and he is trying to persuade people that O’Connell’s campaign should be stopped. He wanted to show O’Connell as a reckless leader who would overthrow society and begin a revolution.
Examine the features below to see how the cartoonist tries to persuade his viewers.
O’Connell’s followers are prepared to kill anybody who opposes them. This is the opposite of O’Connell’s message of peaceful means.
O’Connell is saying one thing – Long life to the King – but planning to attack using wandering labourers – hide your weapons under rags, ye Spalpeens* till I’ll tell ye’s to use them.
The signpost indicates he has won the Clare by-election and now he is heading for London looking for Catholic Emancipation. He is holding the Catholic Rent Roll which provided money for O’Connell’s campaign.
O’Connell’s followers are wild- looking, angry and shabbily dressed in rags, and armed with spears.
1. What does the cartoonist fear will happen after Catholic Emancipation?
2. How does this cartoon show one advantage and one disadvantage of cartoons as sources for historians? (See p. 9)
The followers will persecute Protestants (heretics*) when they get a chance.
O’Connell standing on the Oath of Allegiance (loyalty to the King and the Church of England).
O’Connell was honoured by the new Irish Free State in 1929, on the centenary of Catholic Emancipation
*Spalpeens – wandering labourers *Heretics – people whose beliefs were considered wrong by the Catholic Church