Atkinson, Edward, 1827-1905

William Bourke Cockran supports American involvement in the Philippines, to the dismay of Anti-Imperialists.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-08-12

A statue labeled “Thomas Jefferson The Father of Expansion” stands at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in Saint Louis, Missouri, with Puck directing the attention of George Frisbie Hoar and other anti-expansionists Edward Atkinson, Carl Schurz, and Charles Francis Adams, who look on in disbelief.

comments and context

Comments and Context

The Louisiana Purchase Exposition was planned for 1904 to commemorate the centennial of President Jefferson’s acceptance of Napoleon’s offer to sell vast Western lands — actually French claims to lands — on the American continent. It was planned for St. Louis, the “Gateway To the West,” then one of the largest cities in the United States.

Anti-imperialists George Frisbie Hoar, Carl Schurz, Edward Atkinson, Charles Francis Adams, and Andrew Carnegie are drowning in “Quicksand of Public Opinion,” with the U.S. Capitol building in the background.

comments and context

Comments and Context

The underlying issues of America’s anti-imperialists (the men depicted here, as well as Mark Twain and several other prominent figures) remained in 1902. Those included the constitutionality and moral implications of empire, but as Spain’s surrendered territories accommodated themselves to new flags and occupiers, the problems receded from headlines. A month before this cartoon’s publication, President Roosevelt formally (though not entirely cleanly) ended armed conflict in the Philippines. Rebel leader Emilio Aguinaldo and other insurgents surrendered, military atrocity charges were addressed, and a general amnesty for rebels was declared. Anti-imperialists back in America might have felt subsumed by the quicksand of irrelevance.

Representatives of the “Democratic, Republican, Populist, [and] Prohibition” parties carry a larger-than-life-sized President William McKinley on a sedan chair, and wave their hats as a show of support for McKinley’s policies. Behind them, on the right, are standing William Jennings “Bryan,” former senator George Frisbie “Hoar,” and Edward “Atkinson” (head of the Anti-Imperialist League) dressed like Filipinos. The U.S. Capitol building is in the background. Caption: All parties support him now, – except the unreconstructed Filipinos.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1901-05-29

William Jennings Bryan carries a “Cross of Gold,” a “Crown of Thorns,” and a carpetbag labeled “W.J.B. Speeches” as he walks along railroad tracks headed in the opposite direction of Washington, D.C. Walking with him are newspaper editors Edwin Lawrence Godkin carrying papers labeled “Anti-American Editorials,” Joseph Pulitzer, Edward Atkinson, Carl Schurz carrying a drum on his back labeled “Anti-Expansion Band,” and Oswald Ottendorfer carrying a small bag labeled “Staats Zeitung.” In the background, William McKinley is riding on a railroad car labeled “Expansion Train” that is racing along railroad tracks, headed for Washington, D.C.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1899-12-20

Print shows an American soldier carrying a rifle and bag labeled “U.S.V.” walking in a tropical location. Diminutive figures labeled “Bryan, Ottendorfer, Pulitzer, Atkinson, [and] Godkin” are attempting to hold him back, while George Frisbie Hoar, left behind, stands with his right arm raised in the background.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1899-05-24