Exeter Election, 1873, Delicate Ground

Exeter Election, 1873,  Delicate Ground

Exeter Election, 1873, Delicate Ground

A satirical black and white lithograph featuring an illustration of a white middle-aged man with sideburns stuck in the silt of the River Thames outside the Houses of Parliament. He is dressed in tight dark undergarments with a white pinny, and has stilts attached to his feet. An apparent croquet hammer has knocked him off balance, and appears to be thrusting itself towards his eye, as he drops a bag labelled ‘TAUNTON DUST’ in front of a ballot box labelled ‘1873’. Text above the illustration reads ‘Exeter Election 1873. DELICATE GROUND.’ Below the image text reads ‘“My great objection to the Ballot is that it makes the detection of Bribery & corruption difficult. If we cannot detect the culprit, there is an additional temptation to crime.”’

It is likely the man depicted is Edward Watkin – note his style of facial hair present in numerous portraits and photographs – who was the Liberal MP candidate in the 1873 Exeter by-election when John Coleridge reluctantly resigned from the post. Known as ‘Victoria’s Railway King’, Watkin “exemplified the Victorian spirit of global awareness, pride in a British civilisation with the intention of sharing its benefits with others, and the excitement of participating in the development of new technology and scientific advancement.” (John Greaves, Sir Edward Watkin and the Liberal Cause in the Nineteenth Century, Journal of Liberal History Vol 55)

Alongside his successful career in engineering and railway entrepreneurship, he was heavily involved in politics, ending up as MP for Great Yarmouth 1857-1858, Stockport 1864-1868, and Hythe 1874-1895. “Watkin was one of those who quickly grasped the economics of the capitalist system, and was instrumental from time to time as an MP in bringing in regulations and safeguards against its abuse…When the Liberals of Exeter asked him to be their candidate in the December 1873 by-election, he accepted, and worked hard to win what had been for years, until 1868, a Conservative stronghold. In the event, he was defeated, but Exeter praised him for his efforts, and he later spoke in the House on the town’s behalf.” (Greaves)

Following the result of the election, in a piece by the Western Times 12 December 1873, titled ‘Sir Edward Watkin and The “Times”’, reference is made to the onslaught of attack and propaganda Watkin received by the Tory party during the election, including content printed in The Times:

“The Tories had anticipated that they should be allowed to take possession of this seat quietly. They argued that there would only be a tenure of a few months for the successor to Sir John Coleridge, and seeing the hold which Mr. Mills had on the round, no one would be found to contest it with him. The appearance of Sir Edward Watkin came like a bombshell amongst them…Every lie was raked up and reengage agencies were appealed to for help to blackguard the honourable knight…The Tories garbled his speeches and falsified his arguments as the contest went on…A very cursory glance at Sir E. Watkin’s speeches would have saved him from the imputations which the Times’ writer casts on him of having addressed the constituency in a style, which no mere many of the world – and certainly not so earnest a Liberal as Sir E. Watkin – would have addressed to any intelligent constituency.” 

The piece goes on to boldly suggest (without evidence) that the Tory win was won through “Bribery”, which is of course mentioned in the quote featured in the illustration, perhaps suggesting it was published after the election following the Tory victory: “The contest for Sir John Coleridge’s seat was in fact settled by a systematic course of Bribery. We may not be able to trace the foul stream to the fountain-head – but it is known beyond a doubt in Exeter.”

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