Virginius

President Roosevelt holds a “declination” knife in his right hand and a “3rd term” teddy bear in his left hand.

comments and context

Comments and Context

It is a tribute, if not a simple sign, of the literacy of average people at the turn of the century, that Macauley’s cartoon presumably was understood by readers. Entitled simply “Virginius,” the drawing appeared in the New York World, one of the nation’s largest-circulation newspapers, but a leading “yellow journal,” often sensationalist, and with a large number of immigrants among its readership.

The figure of Virginius, from the ancient Roman legend during the decline of the empire, murdered his own daughter to “save” her, in the custom of the times, from the shame of having been raped. The story is told in Shakespeare’s play Titus Andronicus, one of the bloodiest of the Bard’s several bloody plays, featuring multiple murders.

Macauley’s evocation depicted President Roosevelt — and not favorably; the World was one of the Democratic Party’s major organs — about to kill his “daughter,” a teddy bear labeled Third Term. In fact the declination-dagger was almost four years old, as President Roosevelt declaimed any desire to succeed himself on election night, 1904. The public’s demand for his re-nomination was so strong that he increasingly resorted to emphatic words and preemptive actions within the party to avoid being nominated in spite of his wishes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-13

Creator(s)

Macauley, C. R. (Charles Raymond), 1871-1934

Language

English

Period

U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)

Page Count

1

Production Method

Printed

Record Type

Image

Resource Type

Cartoon

Rights

These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.

Citation