Morgan, Frederick, -1932

With a large question mark near his head, Uncle Sam leans against a door. On the other side, President Roosevelt sweats as he writes his message to Congress. Above him is a vulture wearing overalls that ponders, “I wonder if he will mention my pants?”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Frederick Morgan’s cartoon portrays Theodore Roosevelt in an unusual attitude for a political cartoon — in solitude, nervously sweating and somewhat flummoxed. He labors over his annual message to Congress — today called the State Of the Union Address — away from the anxious curiosity of Uncle Sam; that is, the nation.

Admiral George Dewey and President Roosevelt with his “Nobel prize” stand in the vessel, “The Forlorn Hope,” and release a dove that holds “peace notes to South America.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Frederick Morgan’s cartoon depicts President Roosevelt and Admiral George Dewey, and refers to South American leaders, but a major figure behind the cartoon is not shown: Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany.

Several Democratic Party leaders ride on a train together, including August Belmont, Patrick Henry McCarren, David B. Hill, Charles Francis Murphy, Henry Gassaway Davis, Thomas Taggart, William F. Sheehan, and William Jennings Bryan. Alton B. Parker wears several bandages, including a “$50,000 law job from Belmont” around his head and a “Solid South” bandage on his hand.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-09

Arthur P. Gorman attempts to have one foot on the “Dem. nomination” donkey and the other on the “democracy” donkey as he attempts to juggle several balls and knives: “shrewdness,” “canal opposition,” “leadership,” “Negro question,” “popularity,” and “influence.” Caption: Signor Gormani in his astounding act of trying to bring two mules together going in opposite directions whilst performing a dangerous piece of juggling.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12

At a poker table, Uncle Sam holds a hand of “Roosevelt prosperity” cards and a large stack of chips. John Bull, “Germany,” and “France” have smaller stacks.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-14

President Roosevelt uses an axe to cut down the “postal inquiry” tree. He is surrounded by a forest of trees: “League island improvements,” “Alaskan boundary,” “Turkey,” “Finance,” “Panama Canal,” and “Trusts.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-04

William Jennings Bryan sits atop a small “Denver platform made by W. J. Bryan” amidst the sea of “common sense.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

This is a relatively early political cartoon by Frederick Morgan; previously he drew illustrations, editorial and political cartoons, and children’s works, mostly for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Born in 1865 (or 1862, or some other year; accounts abound), he was the son of the English immigrant Matt Morgan whose woodcut cartoons in Leslie’s Weekly were intended to be that journal’s “answer” to the popular Thomas Nast of Harper’s Weekly. It was reported that Fred’s first work in cartooning was assisting his father.