The warrior’s return
Subject(s): Campaign funds, Castles, Despair, Economic policy, Free trade--Protection, Giants, Knights and knighthood, Palaces, Presidents--Elections, Tariff
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President Roosevelt appears as a knight on horseback carrying a lance labeled “Reciprocity” over his shoulder with a sack labeled “Campaign Funds” hanging from it. In the background is a giant ogre labeled “Infant Industries” sitting against a castle with a club labeled “Dingley Tariff” nestled against his right arm. Over the castle is flying a banner of “High Protection,” and a despondent maiden labeled “Fair Trade” is standing at the top of a tower.
Comments and Context
Invoking an earlier cartoon, when Puck was more charitable about President Roosevelt’s goals and challenges, the “after” part of this composition suggests that Roosevelt extorted campaign contributions from trusts, and that represented his design from the start.
In fact the labels suggest that cartoonist Joseph Keppler was somewhat more ambiguous than his cartoon suggests. The ogre is not labeled “Trusts” but “Infant Industries,” the putative deserving recipients of import-trade policies. The “Dingley Tariff” club was already seven years old at the time of this cartoon, and hardly a contentious issue (the nation was enjoying record levels of prosperity). And Roosevelt’s lance is labeled “Reciprocity,” not High Protection; and reciprocity had been vigorously advocated by Puck itself for several years.
Generally speaking, free trade and fair trade were policies that, when practiced by cooperating nations one by one, were regarded as Reciprocity.
The big bundle of campaign contributions, sought by both parties, was the focus of Keppler’s attack.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1904-10-05
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:
The warrior’s return. [October 5, 1904]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o277862. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956. The warrior’s return. [5 Oct. 1904]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o277862.
APA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956., [1904, October 5]. The warrior’s return.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o277862.
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 5, 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.
