Viewed from Elysium
Subject(s): Democratic Party (U.S.), Imperialism, Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826, Political parties--Platforms
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Thomas Jefferson, laughing, sits on a bench, holding papers that state “Dem. Doctrine, 1901 ‘We oppose, with Jefferson, the conspiracy of National Expansion'” and “New York State platform – 1902 – ‘The Dem. Party stands for Jeffersonian Principles’ also National ownership of coal mines.” Other papers, touting Jeffersonian Principles, are on the ground at his feet. Caption: Thomas Jefferson — How my principles have changed! They’re not a bit like they were when I knew them!
Comments and Context
The exigencies of national politics, or any political necessity, such as many Democrats felt in 1902 after years in the “political desert” and in the face of a popular president, Theodore Roosevelt, can be understood with less sarcasm than Keppler’s cartoon displays. However, the cartoon’s thrust is legitimate, even if Thomas Jefferson himself had “flip-flopped” on the issue of “national expansion.” He had opposed the policy until he favored it with the Louisiana Purchase. In truth, the contradictory sentiments attributed to Jefferson in the cartoon’s papers, and positions of the New York Democratic Party, confirm the common political practice of making ancient doctrines and mythic figures fit a current situation.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1902-10-29
Creator(s)
Period
U.S. President – 1st Term (September 1901-February 1905)
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:
Viewed from Elysium. [October 29, 1902]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o276274. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956. Viewed from Elysium. [29 Oct. 1902]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 26, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o276274.
APA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956., [1902, October 29]. Viewed from Elysium.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o276274.
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. February 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.
