Anger

A large angry man wearing a hat labeled “Jingo” shakes his fist at a cluster of rulers labeled “Turkey, Germany, England, Italy, Japan, [and] Spain” standing on a tiny piece of land labeled “Europe,” across a body of water. Behind the man an impish Uncle Sam stacks bags of “Grain” and “Wheat” near the shore, with factories in the background. Caption: Jingo (angrily)–Look here? What are you chucking stones at our flag for? / European Boys–We ain’t chucking any stones. / Jingo (furiously)–Well, why the devil don’t you chuck ’em?

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1897-12-22

Uncle Sam, wearing a military uniform and holding a sword labeled “U.S.,” sits at a table on which is a small cake on a platter labeled “Cuba,” with a decanter labeled “Philippine Islands” on the table and a bottle labeled “Porto Rico” in an ice bucket. On the left, John Bull is holding a sword labeled “England,” slicing a large cake on a platter labeled “China.” Around the table, with him, are four figures representing “Russia” (Nicholas II), “France” (Felix Faure), “Germany” (William II), and “Japan” (Meiji), each using a sword to carve up the cake which is labeled “Wei-Hai-Wei, Coal Fields of Shan-Si, Ta-Lien-Wan, Port Arthur, Hainan, Kai Chau, [and] Formosa.” Looking on from behind a wall on the far left are Italy (Umberto I) and Austria (Franz Joseph I). Caption: John Bull (to the Powers)–What are you mad about? We can’t grudge him a light lunch while we are feasting!

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1898-05-25

An angry Father Knickerbocker, symbolic figure of New York City, performs a feat of strength by breaking chains that bind his arms and chest. The broken chains spell “Raines Law” and “Hayseed Legislation.” Caption: Father Knickerbocker is in training for this “Sandow Act” (referring to similar feats of strength by bodybuilder Eugen Sandow).

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1897-06-09

Theodore Roosevelt meets with William II, the emperor of Germany, Armand Fallières of France, Victor Emmanuel III, the King of Italy, and King Edward VII, of Great Britain. He is being interrupted by a sobbing Republican elephant, imploring him to return home now, especially if he cares at all for the Republican Party. Caption continues: “The bell in the graveyard tolls One; / You said you were coming right home from the wilds as soon as your shooting was done. / Come now! Come n-o-o-w! Oh, Teddy! Dear Teddy! Ifyoucareevenalittlebitforusteddy, Come NOW!”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1910-04-13

The ghost of Thomas Jefferson speaks to a gathering of the ghosts of John Tyler, Lewis Cass, James K. Polk, Stephen A. Douglas, Franklin Pierce, Andrew Jackson, William L. Marcy, Samuel J. Tilden, James Buchanan, Martin Van Buren, and John C. Calhoun. Jackson’s right hand rests on a paper that states “Call for Indignation Meeting to Protest Against.” Caption: Shade of Jefferson–And so, gentlemen, in view of the unpatriotic behavior of those professed Democrats in Congress, at a most trying moment in their country’s history, I am regretfully forced to declare that our once glorious party has degenerated, and that the only good Democrats are dead ones.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1899-03-01

“Germania” and “Columbia” hold hands above and behind a child-like Otto von Bismarck who is tearing papers labeled “Lasker Resolution” while sitting on the floor. Around Bismarck are torn papers labeled “German Emigration” and “French Lampoon,” and a broken pull-toy of a pig labeled “American Pork” into which he has driven nails with a hammer labeled “Bad Temper.” Caption: Germania to Columbia – “We shall still remain friends, in spite of this foolish old man!”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1884-02-27

An angry mob of bankers, brokers, and financiers threaten Santa Claus who is hanging off the statue of George Washington outside Federal Hall in Manhattan, New York City, New York. Caption: Chorus of Bankers and Brokers — Just say Christmas to us this year, that’s all! We dare you!

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1913-12-10

Theodore Roosevelt grimaces in anger with both arms raised. He is wearing Uncle Sam’s clothes, who is running off in a barrel to hide his nakedness. Also departing in fear are the Republican elephant and the Democratic donkey. Convention Number.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1912-06-19

Governor Roosevelt asks Frederick William Holls to explain matters to the Germans who are “[feeling] hot” because Roosevelt could not attend the Singers’ Festival. He would like Holls to contact him at the Union League Club. He notes that the enclosed letter should explain itself.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1900-06-28

President Roosevelt sits in a chair labeled “Presidency” with a fasces behind his left shoulder and with a gag labeled “Civil Decency” in his mouth. He is looking at a spirit of himself from 1900 when he could speak freely.

Comments and Context

This cartoon, signed by Joseph Keppler Junior but oddly unlike his style, and reminiscent of Louis Dalrymple (who had left Puck for the Republican Judge), displays the power of partisanship in election years. Puck, owned by Keppler, had been a consistent supporter of President Roosevelt since he ascended to the presidency upon the death of William McKinley. The magazine extolled the man, complimented his multi-faceted personality, and generally endorsed his policies.

When the 1904 election presented itself, Puck reverted to its Democratic roots (perhaps, as has been suggested, due in part to financial backing by the party) and criticized Roosevelt. Its task was made easier by the Democrats’ presidential nomination of a Democrat to its liking, the conservative Judge Alton Brooks Parker.

President Roosevelt thanks Sherrard Coleman for his nice letter. He tells Coleman that he has felt “intense indignation” at the behavior of Senators Joseph Benson Foraker and Benjamin R. Tillman over the matter in question; they have humiliated themselves by doing “grave damage to the discipline of the army” and have caused “mischief” regarding race relations. He will take up the final matter in Coleman’s letter with General George Bell.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-22

Van V. Bowman criticizes Frank Harper’s reply to his letter and treatment of the situation regarding the robe.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-14

Aaron Baker Clark is frustrated with Theodore Roosevelt after reading “Race Suicide.” Baker does not see how Roosevelt could understand the hardships that come with earning $18 a week, and how difficult having a family or living a life of means is with that amount of money. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-20

At Senator Burrows’s request, J. Ellen Foster reports that she had a slight acquaintance with Laura A. Hull Morris a few years ago. They both resided in the same apartment house. According to Foster, Morris mostly acted as a lady, but was subject to outbursts. On one occasion, Foster was the victim of a verbal assault by Morris.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-19