The vote of the gold democrats; — their country’s welfare before their party’s welfare
Subject(s): Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925, Currency question, Democratic Party (U.S.), McKinley, William, 1843-1901, Palmer, John M. (John McAuley), 1817-1900, Peffer, William Alfred, 1831-1912, Political parties--Platforms, Presidents--Election, Voting, Whitney, William C. (William Collins), 1841-1904
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Members of the Democratic Party labeled “Sound Money Democrats” cast votes for President William McKinley and show their support for the “Sound Money” platform of the Republican Party. On the left is a little man representing a faction of the Populist Party, flying a banner with a portrait of William Jennings Bryan; and in the background is the deserted Democratic Party Platform, flying a banner labeled “Democrat No Nomination.”
comments and context
Comments and Context
The man under the Populist banner is Senator William A. Peffer of Kansas, one of six Populists to serve in the United States Senate. He served one term, 1891-1897, but maintained political ambitions, and Populist ideals. Among the “Gold Democrats’ who stayed loyal to President Cleveland in 1896 and declined to support William Jennings Bryan, some continued to support Republican President McKinley in 1900. This cartoon seems more appropriate for 1896, but shows how shunned Bryan was among some Democrats with long memories and “Sound Money” principles. They are not labeled, but some of Democrats shown voting for McKinley are (foreground) John M. Palmer, the so-called National Democratic Party candidate for President in 1896; and (background, with shaded spectacles) William C. Whitney, who had been President Cleveland’s Secretary of the Navy. Whitney was a hunting partner of Theodore Roosevelt, and whose son Harry married Gertrude Vanderbilt, founder of the Whitney Museum of Art; and whose other son William married Helen Hay, poet and daughter of Roosevelt’s Secretary of State John Hay. The daughter of Harry and Gertrude was Flora Payne Whitney, who engaged to be married to Theodore’s son Quentin when the latter was killed in aerial combat in World War I.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1900-09-12
Creator(s)
Period
Governor of New York (October 1898-1900)
Repository
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
Page Count
1
Record Type
Image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
The vote of the gold democrats; — their country’s welfare before their party’s welfare. [September 12, 1900]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o275607. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Dalrymple, Louis, 1866-1905. The vote of the gold democrats; — their country’s welfare before their party’s welfare. [12 Sep. 1900]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 26, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o275607.
APA:
Dalrymple, Louis, 1866-1905., [1900, September 12]. The vote of the gold democrats; — their country’s welfare before their party’s welfare.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o275607.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 26, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs.
APA:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs.
