Keppler, Joseph Ferdinand, 1838-1894

Grover Cleveland rides the Democratic donkey past the “Republican R. R. R. Hotel” on the way to his inauguration. He is surrounded by a host of characters that includes many political figures and newspaper editors, including Joseph F. Keppler with his diminutive character Puck. Among those depicted are: Roscoe Conkling, George Edmunds, Augustus Garland, “Hampton,” “William H. Barnum,” L. Q. C. Lamar, “Grace,” “Jones,” Joseph Pulitzer, James G. Bennett, Henry B. Ward, Samuel J. Randall, Thomas Hendricks, Abram S. Hewitt, U. S. Grant, Chester A. Arthur, Grover Cleveland, “McDonas,” Daniel Manning, George W. Curtis, Rutherford B. Hayes, Samuel J. Tilden, Thomas F. Bayard (carrying a flag that states “Public Office is a Public Trust. G. Cleveland”), Joseph Medill, William C. Endicott, John Logan, James G. Blaine, Carl Schurz, William F. Vilas, Cox, Winfield Scott Hancock, Benjamin Harrison, Henry Watterson, and Hermann “Raster.” Also shown is Puck’s Independent Party figure and papers labeled “Compliments of C. A. Dana.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1885-03-04

President Cleveland sits at a desk between his cabinet members, from the left, “W. C. Whitney, Secretary of the Navy, Daniel Manning, Secretary of the Treasury, A. H. Garland, Attorney-General, T. F. Bayard, Secretary of State, W. C. Endicott, Secretary of War, W. F. Vilas, Postmaster-General, [and] L. Q. C. Lamar, Secretary of the Interior.” They are in a hall lined with statues labeled “Navy, War, Justice, State, Treasury, Interior, [and] Post.” On the wall at the back of the room is the following quote: “It is the duty of those serving the people in public places to closely limit public expenditures to the actual needs of the government economically administered. G. Cleveland.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1885-03-11

Julius Caesar or a Roman centurion, in the background, tumbles off a pillar of stones labeled “Rome, Etruria, Britain, Asia, [and] Africa.” In the middle distance, on a bit of land labeled “France,” Napoleon I is shown tumbling off a pillar of stones labeled “Egypt, Italy, Spain, Holland, Austria, Prussia, [and] Russia” and falling toward a rocky island labeled “St. Helena.” In the foreground, John Bull is standing atop a pillar of stones labeled “Scotland, Ireland, Malta, Gibraltar, India, Australia, Cyprus, Egypt, [and] Soudan [sic]” on a bit of land labeled “England.” The stones are propped up by various types of weapons, with the top two stones supported by a steamship, though the top stone “Soudan” appears about to fall off.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1885-03-25

At center is a bust portrait of Ulysses S. Grant, facing slightly right, with ribbon around him labeled with the places visited following his presidency. The portrait is surrounded by scenes showing Grant’s birthplace, his education at West Point, and places he served during the American Civil War. At bottom is an illustration of Grant’s inauguration in “Washington, 1869” attended by, among others, Roscoe Conkling and John Logan.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1885-04-08

A hapless army of clergymen assaults a fortress labeled “Non-Sectarian Institution” around a building labeled “House of Refuge” with a battering ram labeled “Freedom of Worship Bill.” One bishop is carrying a military standard labeled “In hoc signo vinces” (In this sign you will conquer) that shows a ballot box labeled “Irish Vote.” Defending the ramparts are newspaper editors, including Puck. In the middle distance is a building labeled “Public School” and in the background, atop a hill, is a statue labeled “Constitution” that states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1885-04-22

William E. Gladstone, dressed as an old woman wearing keys labeled “Suez, Gibraltor, [and] Herat,” pushes John Bull into a kissing embrace with Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia, who is, likewise, being pushed by a woman labeled “Empress of Russia.” They are suspended over a thin crevice emitting smoke as though it were a volcano about to erupt. A cut-away view shows a munitions foundry just below the surface of the ground, furiously producing ordnance.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1885-05-13

Secretary of the Navy William C. Whitney hands a boat labeled “Dolphin” to James G. Blaine who shies away, refusing to accept it. In the background, John Roach, a contractor, who built the ship “Dolphin,” is crying because the Cleveland administration has voided his contract. Caption: Secretary Whitney – “Here, Mr. Blaine, this was evidently built in the expectation of your election. We have no use for it.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1885-05-20

At the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, the Puck figure for the “Independent” party stands on a raised platform, hoisting a flag that states “For President G. Cleveland” showing a portrait of Grover Cleveland, while a female figure labeled “Democratic Party” gestures toward the flag. In the foreground, Benjamin F. Butler, dressed as a clown, and John Kelly, dressed as a Native American, are crying. Extending from Butler’s pocket is a string of sausages labeled “Tammany’s Nomination, Women’s Suffrage Nomination, Tewkesbury Pauper Nomination, Convict Party Nomination, Greenback Nomination, [and] Butler’s Nomination.” Kelly is labeled “Tammany” and carries a peace pipe labeled “Grady.” In the background, the disappointed Tammany delegation has gathered up their signs and is departing. Caption: When party lifts a flag like this on high, small wonder clowns and demagogues should cry.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1884-07-16

James Gillespie Blaine stands on the “Republican Race Track” in an arena, apparently frozen in position as his tattooed ghost races past him. A sign in the center of the track states “Presidential Race Against Time – Blaine to Beat His Own Record.” In the background is a tent with banner labeled “J. Blaine” and decked with floral wreaths that state “With Compliments J. Gould” and “With Compliments from C. Field,” and one shaped like a horseshoe from “R. Sage.” Whitelaw Reid stands outside the tent, holding a bucket and a sponge labeled “Tribune” and William Walter Phelps peaks through the flaps with a concerned look on his face. Among those in the grandstand on the left are A. M. Clapp, George M. Robeson, Alonzo B. Cornell, John Roach, and Thomas Jefferson Brady. Caption: Chorus of Friends “Go in, Jim! – brace up! Can’t you do any better than that?”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1884-07-30

Whitelaw Reid, in the dark shadows of a street, pours alcohol from a large jug labeled “Tribune Tonic Crooked Campaign Brand” into the open mouth of an Irish man wearing a plumed hat, a cape labeled “Plumed Dynamiters’ League,” and holding a large knife labeled “Blind Animosity” and a stick with a bomb attached to the end. Stephen B. Elkins, crouched behind Reid, is keeping a lookout. Both are wearing plumed hats. On the wall behind them is a notice that states “Grand Mass-Meeting! Mr. W. Reid will speak on ‘The spread of American Ideas among the Irish’.” Puck’s “Independent” Party figure is walking down the street with Grover Cleveland.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1884-08-06

A street on a winter’s day is crowded with horse-drawn sleighs, some of which are attempting to get ahead of the others. On the left, a sleigh labeled “J. Gould” carrying Gould, Whitelaw Reid, and Roscoe Conkling has caused another sleigh labeled “Villard” and “Northern Pacific R. R.” to overturn, spilling Henry Villard, and nearly hitting George H. “Pendleton” holding on to the arm of a young girl labeled “Civil Service Reform.” Behind them is a troika labeled “Standard Oil Co.” that is driven by Sereno “Payne.” Racing ahead at the center is a sleigh labeled “The P– be d–” and “Vanderbilt” driven by William H. Vanderbilt. On the right is a large “Labor Sleigh” loaded with blue-collar workers and drawn by a single, scrawny horse struggling to keep pace. To the far right are two sleighs. One labeled “Roach Contract Cutter” is driven by John Roach and the other labeled “Field” is driven by Cyrus Field. Bringing up the rear is a sleigh labeled “Huntington” driven by Collis P. Huntington and flying a banner that states, “It costs money to fix things.” A man with a bag labeled “Laborer Iron” has fallen in the street and is about to be run over by Roach and the Labor Sleigh.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1884-02-06

In a four panel cartoon, four Puck cartoonists each take a panel in an effort to solve the issue of Mormonism. Clockwise from bottom left, captioned, “I imagine it must be a perfect paradise–Keppler,” Joseph Keppler places himself at the center of a harem, smoking a hookah signed “J.K.” and surrounded by beautiful women, one bringing a bottle of “G.H. Mumm” champagne. At top left, captioned, “I think one wife is enough–Gillam,” Bernhard Gillam shows a domestic scene at his home where he, labeled “Small Income,” his coattails in the clutches of his wife, attempts to avoid being struck by her with a fireplace scoop, while “My Wife’s Relations” stand behind her. At top right, captioned, “How long will this destructive monster be allowed to live?–Opper,” Frederick Opper is shown gesturing toward a large octopus labeled “Mormonism” that has caught in its tentacles “S.J.T., Uncle Sam, Public Opinion, Y.M.C.A., Public School System, Justice, Independent New Party, W.H.V., Field, Gould, Kelly, [a] New York Dive, [and the] Catholic Church,” as well as Benjamin Butler, the U.S. Capitol, and reaching all the way to “Ireland.” On the bottom right, captioned, “What is the use of Mormonism, when a man can change his wife whenever he likes?–Graetz,” Friedrich Graetz stands in the foreground gesturing toward hordes of men rushing to get divorced on “Saturday. Divorce day in Chicago,” and at places advertising “Divorces without publicity, Divorces procured without delay. Liberal charges, [and] Divorces obtained for $5.00.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1884-02-13

James Gillespie Blaine runs through a swamp, chasing a firefly labeled “Presidency” that is thumbing its nose at him. Blaine is leaving a “Bad Political Record” behind him that begins with his “Early Life in Pennsylvania,” then “Becoming a Yankee” in Maine and “Being the First Carpet-Bagger,” where he was engaged in fishing for “Men and Votes,” and then as a Congressman and “Selling Agent of Little-Rock Bonds,” and finally as “Secretary of State” and the “American Bismarck.” “Mulligan Letters” are depicted throughout. The firefly projects a shadow of Blaine as a wicked hag on the white pages of his past.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1884-04-23

Print shows W. E. Gladstone, possibly dressed as a Greek marathon runner, passing an “Altar of Peace” on which there appears to be a small fire and a rifle labeled “Coercion.” A red military tunic and helmet have fallen to the ground near the altar. Several dogs labeled “Assassin, Ribbon Man, Desperado, Secret Society, [and] Fenian” attack Gladstone. Michael Davitt and Charles Stuart Parnell, with a leash labeled “Land League,” struggle to hold onto the dogs. Davitt has stumbled over John Dillon; all three are lying on the ground. In the background, a man runs into the forest after stabbing two men who were wearing top hats and may have been British government officials.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1882-05-17

James Gillespie Blaine and Chester Alan Arthur sit at a table on which are papers that state “The Republican State Convention at Utica, N.Y., April 23 1884” and “The Delegates At Large of New York for J. G. Blaine” and “The Delegates At Large of New York for Chester A. Arthur.” Standing between Blaine and Arthur is a man labeled “Independent Voter.” He is wielding a quill pen labeled “Balance of Power” and has drawn an “X” on Blaine’s paper and is about to mark Arthur’s paper. Through windows in the background can be seen crowds, on the left, “For C. A. Arthur” and one man labeled “J. O’Brien” and on the right, “For J. G. Blaine” with Whitelaw Reid visible in the foreground.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1884-04-30

Print shows a vignette cartoon with a carriage at center in which Jay Gould, Russell Sage, Cyrus W. Field, and William H. Vanderbilt are riding with large money bags; the wheels are labeled “Corporations” and “Monopoly.” The carriage is driven by an eagle dressed like Uncle Sam wearing a top hat labeled “1882” and carrying a whip labeled “Revenue Tariff.” The carriage is pulled by an “Underpaid Workman,” a “Starving Laborer,” a “War Widow,” a “Sewing Girl,” an “Old Merchant,” a “Poor Clerk,” and a “Cripple,”among others, with ropes labeled “Tax.” The surrounding vignettes show scenes of corruption, misfortune, presidential office seekers, Valley Forge, and “Charitable Institutions for the poor and unfortunate” from “Maine” to “California” showing buildings labeled “Poor House” and “Jail.” Featured in these vignettes are such figures as Chester Alan Arthur, George M. Robeson, Samuel J. Tilden, Roscoe Conkling, John Kelly, Ulysses S. Grant, Benjamin F. Butler, and Joseph W. Keifer, as well as “Honest Labor, Patriotism, [and] Integrity.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

A group of explorers of the polar regions, representing discovery and exploration, float on an ice floe. They may all be on the verge of death. Weighing judgment are James Gordon Bennett of the New York Herald and several European heads of state sitting in an area labeled “Reserved for J. G. Bennett and other Crowned Heads,” as well as a group of men seated in an area labeled “In the Name of Science – More! More!” This latter group has already pronounced judgment by giving the “Thumbs Down” sign. Notices pasted on the walls of the arena state “Kane died 1853, Franklin died 1850, Hall died 1871, [and] G. W. De Long 1882” referring to explorers who died in the name of science.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1882-05-31

A group of office seekers labeled “McLean, Pulitzer, Dorsheimer, Blackburn, McLaughlin, Hill, [and] Dana” sing Christmas carols outside the “White House” where President Cleveland is visible through a window. Their carol goes: “God rest you, merry gentlemen, / May nothing you dismay; / Remember us poor spoilsmen left / This blessed Christmas Day. / Since Christmas comes but once a year, / Oh, let us share your Christmas cheer, / And chuck one little office here / On Christmas Day in the A. M.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1885-12-23

Father Time presents the new year labeled “1886” to Puck standing in the foreground, holding his lithographic pencil. Behind him are scenes of events from 1885, such as President Cleveland’s inauguration on March 4, Fredinand Ward’s conviction and William Mahone’s defeat, publication of Pope Leo XIII’s “Encyclical” Immortale Dei, Louis Pasteur’s anti-rabies vaccine, Chinese attacked in Rock Springs, Wyoming, and Tacoma, Washington Territory, and the Grim Reaper strikes down Ulysses S. Grant, Alfonso XII of Spain, William H. Vanderbilt, composer Leopold Damrosch, Cardinal McCloskey, Thomas Hendricks, and Victor Hugo. Fighting continues in Bulgaria, Sudan, Tonquin, and Spain.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1885-12-30

Print shows an Irishman confronting Uncle Sam in a boarding house filled with laborers, immigrants from several countries who are attempting to sleep. The “Frenchman, Japanese, Negro, Russian, Italian,” and “German” sleep peacefully. The “Irishman” kicks up a row. He has thrown such bricks as “The Chinese must go,” “Recall Lowell,” and “Irish independence” at Uncle Sam and the female figure of liberty standing on the left. He disturbs a “Chinese” man and an “Englishman,” who are in the berths next to him. Caption: Uncle Sam – “Look here, you, everybody else is quiet and peaceable, and you’re all the time a-kicking up a row!”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1882-06-07