Politics, Press and Scandal in the Mid-1880s: French and British Cabals?

This article considers two scandals in France and Britain the late 1880s which effectively ended careers of prominent radical politicians. It highlights role press at a period (1850s-1880s) when political, fiscal technical conditions daily newspapers operated, popular dailies emerged, impact so-called “American” or “new” journalism was debated. The politicians, Charles Dilke Britain, Daniel Wilson considered themselves persecuted press; but himself an early “chain” newspaper-owner closely associated with Liberal newspapers. Victorian Christian morality contributed to opprobrium surrounding Dilke; lambasted for nefarious business activities.