Dana, Charles A. (Charles Anderson), 1819-1897

Creation Date

1882-08-02

Creator(s)

The carol of the “waits”

A group of office seekers labeled “McLean, Pulitzer, Dorsheimer, Blackburn, McLaughlin, Hill, [and] Dana” sing Christmas carols outside the “White House” where President Cleveland is visible through a window. Their carol goes: “God rest you, merry gentlemen, / May nothing you dismay; / Remember us poor spoilsmen left / This blessed Christmas Day. / Since Christmas comes but once a year, / Oh, let us share your Christmas cheer, / And chuck one little office here / On Christmas Day in the A. M.”

Collection

Creation Date

1885-12-23

Creator(s)

The Presidential recruiting-office

In the interior of a recruiting office for the presidency, Uncle Sam and Puck examine potential recruits against a height chart labeled, from low to high, “Notoriety, Popularity, Capability, Honesty, [and at the top] Statesmanship.” A number of men, in various states of undress, have been rejected for a variety of reasons: “Evarts Too Long-Winded, [U.S. Grant] Retired, [Conkling] Too Pigeon-Breasted, [Thomas Collier Platt] Me Too Little, Mahone Must be Readjusted, J. B. Rejected Too Crooked, Dana Rejected – Too Shortsighted, [Logan] Grammar Feeble, [Arthur] Rejected No Backbone, [Davis] Short Winded, Sherman Bloody Shirt Mania, [Kelly] Pig-Headed, Payne Oil on the Brain, Randall Protection Madness, Bayard Unstable, [Tilden] Rejected Cipher Catarrh, [and] B[utler] Can’t See Straight.” Five tall men, “Admitted to the Competition,” stand on the right: “Hewitt, Carlisle, Morrison, Lincoln [and] Edmunds O. K.”

Collection

Creation Date

1884-04-30

Creator(s)

The national dime-museum – will be run during the presidential campaign

A gallery of presidential candidates includes, clockwise, from bottom left: John Kelly as a card-playing pig, Chester A. Arthur as “The Snake Charmer” charming a snake labeled “Stalwart Vote” with a horn labeled “Patronage,” Benjamin F. Butler as “What is it?,” “Siamese Twins Keifer [and] Robeson,” John A. Logan as the “Wild Zulu on the Warpath,” “Carlisle, Morrison, [and] Hewitt” as a “Wax Group of Three Heroes Who Perished in an Attempt to Reach the Pole of Tariff Reform,” “‘Richelieu’ Robinson” as a “Fire Eater,” Charles A. “Dana” as a “Screech Parrot,” a cage containing an “Un-Happy Family – N.Y. Board of Aldermen,” an “Ancient Mummy Exhumed Lately” labeled “1876 Fraud Issue – S. J. T.,” John “Sherman” as “The Man in the Bloody Shirt,” Henry Watterson as a buffalo, Whitelaw Reid as a giraffe, and Samuel J. Randall(?) as “The Democratic White Elephant,” William “Evarts” as the thin man, Roscoe Conkling as the bearded lady, David “Davis” as the Fat Lady, Robert Todd “Lincoln” and George F. “Edmunds” as “The Two Giants,” James G. Blaine as the tattooed man, T. C. “Platt” and William “Mahone” as Tom Thumb and his bride, and Samuel S. “Cox” as a dancing poodle. In the center is a stuffed tiger labeled “Tammany” on a pedestal labeled “Killed by Roosevelt.”

Collection

Creation Date

1884-04-16

Creator(s)

A new way of “waking” the Democratic shaughraun

Print shows a small, rustic room crowded with members of the Democratic Party, some dressed as old women, others drinking and smoking clay pipes. One man, the “Shaughraun” labeled “Democratic Party,” is lying on a board that is resting on wooden supports. He is stirred to life by snuff sprinkled on his nose from a bowl labeled “Tariff Reform Snuff” by John G. Carlisle who is dressed in a formal uniform with sword. Among the crowd are Charles A. Dana, Benjamin F. Butler, and Samuel J. Tilden (all dressed as old women), Grover Cleveland, Samuel J. Randall, John Kelly, Henry Watterson, Abram S. Hewitt (dressed as an old woman), Samuel S. Cox, and Thomas F. Bayard (also dressed as an old woman), with arms raised in alarm and a broken pipe at his feet. On the far right are Thomas A. Hendricks drinking from a bottle labeled “Old Ticket Rye,” Winfield Scott Hancock, and Allen G. Thurman. Caption: “Captain” Carlisle shows that he is up to snuff.

Collection

Creation Date

1883-12-12

Creator(s)

A “bogus” cremation for the benefit of the “life-long Democrats”

A group of men stand near the “Bourbon Crematory for Disbelievers in the Spoils System.” Some are identified by name, “Blackburn, D. B. Hill, McLaughlin, Thurman, Jones, Hedden, [and] Hendricks,” and some by association with quills behind their ears “Sun” Charles A. Dana, “Cincinnati Enquirer” John R. McLean, “World” Joseph Pulitzer, and “Star.” The newspaper editors are pushing a wrapped figure labeled “This is the Mugwump! And don’t you forget it!” into the crematorium. Hendricks stands on the right, next to an urn labeled “For Mugwump Ashes,” and the others observe from the left. Puck and the figure representing “The Independent Party” are watching from a window in the background. Caption: Uncremated Mugwump (from outside) – “If those old Bourbons take that dummy for me, they’ll be a little startled when they find out that I’m alive – and kicking!”

Collection

Creation Date

1885-11-18

Creator(s)

Barkis is willin’

Print shows an Irishman man labeled “Democracy” standing at center, holding a small glass slipper labeled “’84 Presidential Nomination”, with Samuel J. Tilden and Charles A. Dana as courtiers standing behind him. On the left, sitting in a chair is Benjamin F. Butler, as a housemaid, holding up a huge foot, an oversized shoe labeled “Unanimous Renomination” is on the floor next to the chair. Butler claims to be “Cinderella” (and like Dickens’ “Barkis,” he is willing), though the others look with dismay at the size of his foot. Caption: B. Butler “Here’s your Cinderella, gentlemen – you needn’t go any further.”

Collection

Creation Date

1883-10-03

Creator(s)

Driven to desperation

William S. Holman holds up a page from “The Sun” newspaper that shows his portrait above the caption “Our Candidate for President – W. S. Holman.” His hat and coat are on a chair and he is rolling up his shirt sleeves. He is armed with guns and knives, and a large club is leaning against a desk. He is threatening to kill Charles A. Dana. Dana kneels before him, pleading for mercy. On the desk is another page of the newspaper that states “Holman – the Peoples Choice.” A display cabinet behind the desk contains Samuel J. Tilden beneath a sign “The Sun’s Candidate in 1876” and Winfield Scott Hancock labeled “A Good Man 250 lbs” beneath a sign “The Sun’s Candidate in 1880.” Caption: W. S. Holman–“This portrait settles it, Mr. Dana! I am forced to kill you in self-defense!”

Collection

Opper, Frederick Burr, 1857-1937

Creation Date

1883-10-24

Creator(s)

In the jaws of death – a cold day for the Independent Party

Print shows Puck’s figure for the “Independent Party” in a small sailboat of that name, flying a banner labeled “Independents”, sailing through icy waters among large icebergs. In the background two ships labeled “Tariff Reform” and “Civil Service Reform” have wrecked on icebergs. Among the faces in the icebergs are Rutherford B. Hayes, Roscoe Conkling, George M. Robeson, William Mahone, George F. Hoar, James G. Blaine, Jay Gould, Cyrus W. Field, John Sherman, John A. Logan, Whitelaw Reid, Samuel J. Tilden, Hubert O. Thompson, John Kelly, Charles A. Dana, Thomas Hendricks, Thomas F. Bayard, Winfield Scott Hancock, Benjamin F. Butler, Grover Cleveland, Ulysses S. Grant, Allen G. Thurman, Abram S. Hewitt, and Chester A. Arthur.

Collection

Creation Date

1883-11-07

Creator(s)

The death-watch – the execution postponed

A woman labeled “Republican Party” is held in the “Condemned Cell” of a jail labeled “To Be Executed Nov. 6th 1883,” with Charles A. Dana labeled “Jailor” and Henry Watterson labeled “Turnkey.” Watterson looks dismayed and Dana appears shocked when Puck, as a “Messenger Boy,” arrives with a newspaper that states “Reprieve – Nov. 6th – By Order of the People.”

Collection

Opper, Frederick Burr, 1857-1937

Creation Date

1883-11-14

Creator(s)

“Evacuation day” March 4th, 1885 – a Democratic dream

Print shows the Republican Party, led by Chester A. Arthur, laying down their arms, with George M. Robeson, James G. Blaine, Roscoe Conkling, Whitelaw Reid, Carl Schurz, John Sherman, Charles J. Folger, Robert T. Lincoln, John A. Logan, Ulysses S. Grant, James D. Cameron, George F. Hoar, George F. Edmunds, and Henry Ward Beecher, exiting a citadel in the background. They are surrendering the presidency to the Democratic Party, led by newspaper editors Joseph Pulitzer of the N.Y. World, Charles A. Dana, and Henry Watterson. Samuel J. Tilden “Old Ticket,” Benjamin F. Butler, Grover Cleveland, Thomas Hendricks, Winfield Scott Hancock, Rutherford B. Hayes, and Thomas F. Bayard are on horseback, and Tammany Hall, led by John Kelly, marches under the banner “To the Victors Belong the Spoils.”

Collection

Creation Date

1883-11-21

Creator(s)

Another restorer of antiquities à la Cesnola

Print shows Charles A. Dana as an archaeologist who has just excavated a statue labeled “S.J.T.” and “Buried in 1876” from “Greystone,” behind which Henry Watterson, on the left, and John Kelly, on the right, glower and gesture in anger. Dana is using “Newspaper Cement” to attach arms, hands, and feet labeled “Popular Enthusiasm” and “New Political Footing” to the statue. One arm and hand with a flower labeled “Clean Record” have already been pinned in place. There is a basket of tools labeled “Editorials” and a pick labeled “Wire Pulling” at Dana’s side. In the background, a banner atop the White House states “Presidential Museum.” Caption: C. A. Dana (having excavated an Old Fossil) “I guess I can palm him off on the people for their Museum in 1884!”

Collection

Creation Date

1882-04-05

Creator(s)

Thanksgiving day, 1884 – “let us be thankful!”

A glum Thanksgiving Day feast is occurring with the downtrodden Republican presidential candidate James G. Blaine and his supporters “W.W. Phelps, [Roscoe Conkling at an open door], William Mahone, Cabot Lodge, [John Logan], Robeson, Dorsey, [W. Reid, Benjamin F. Butler], Elkins, Platt, [Cyrus W. Field, and] C.A. Dana” gathered around a table, and with John Kelly as a dog next to a plate with a small bird labeled “Compliments of N.Y. Citizens.” Reid is removing the top of a platter labeled “Campaign” where there is a “Crow” that is “Compliments of the People.” Through a window, where Puck is looking in, can be seen Grover Cleveland carrying a large turkey labeled “Presidency” over his shoulder, and across the street is Jay Gould offering his “Congratulations.”

Collection

Creation Date

1884-11-26

Creator(s)

No welcome for the little stranger

At center, Grover Cleveland holds an infant labeled “Civil Service Reform.” They are surrounded by a bunch of angry old men as orphans labeled “Hube Thompson, Eddie Hedden, Davy Hill, Hugh, Joe Blackburn, Charlie Dana, Eustis, Johnnie McLean, Pulitzer, A.P. Gorman, [and] Johnnie K,” and one as an old woman labeled “Hendricks.” On the left is the “Republican Home – No Civil Service Infants Wanted Here” and on the right is the “Democratic Home Restored in 1884.” Caption: Father Cleveland adopts the abandoned infant of the Republican Home, to the great disgust of the Jeffersonian household.

Collection

Zimmerman, Eugene, 1862-1935

Creation Date

1885-10-21

Creator(s)

Columbus Cleveland and his mutinous crew – “This ship shall not turn back!”

Grover Cleveland, as Christopher Columbus, holds a map labeled “Route to Reform,” aboard a ship surrounded by mutinous sailors labeled “Bayard, Whitney, Eustis, Sterling, Hedden, Pulitzer, Blackburn, Hill, McLaughlin, Jones, Thompson, Gorman, Grady.” Unidentified are Thomas A. Hendricks, John Kelly, Lucius Q. C. Lamar, and Charles A. Dana. A bird arrives from the left carrying a piece of paper that states “From Land of Reform.”

Collection

Creation Date

1885-11-04

Creator(s)

“The Mulligan guard lies, but – surrenders”

An explosion has occurred at the “Claim Agency, Formerly Republican Head Quarters” with William M. Evarts peeking through the opening in the tent to survey the damage. Several small kiosks labeled “Machine Republicans Meet Here, County Democracy Blaine Exchange, Tribune Blaine Organ, [and] Friends of Tammany Meet Here” have been blown over and damaged. Also knocked to the ground by the blast were “Keifer, [Blaine holding a paper that states “I Claim Everything”], Logan, W. Reid, Butler, Dana, Burchard [labeled “R.R.R.”], Robeson, Elkins, Dorsey,” and an unidentified man lying on the ground next to bags of “Soap.” On horseback, in the upper left corner, is Grover Cleveland holding a scroll labeled “Reform,” and a Puck character carrying a standard labeled “Independents.” Among the ranks are Carl Schurz, George W. Curtis, and Henry Ward Beecher. Strewn on the ground are papers that state “I.O.U. If we win. J. G., I.O.U. Conditional on Success, C.W.F., [and] I.O.U. If you get there, J. Roach”; and several of the downed “Mulligan Guard” hold papers that state “We Still Claim,” whereas Dana’s paper states “I Give Up.”

Collection

Creation Date

1884-11-19

Creator(s)

Crowding the cabinet-making business

Newspaper editors present their candidates for government appointments. James Gordon “Bennett” holds up a bust of Roscoe Conkling labeled “Sect. Interior,” with a tray labeled “Bennett’s Beauties” at his feet. Whitelaw “Reid” holds a tray labeled “Please choose these and suit us, Blaine & Reid,” on which are busts labeled “KKK” for “Sec’y Interior, Sec’y of War, [and] Treasury.” Joseph “Pulitzer” holds up a tray labeled “The World for Pulitzer” on which are busts of himself. Charles A. Dana carries a tray labeled “Dana’s Darlings” with busts of John “Kelly,” Thomas F. “Grady,” George M. “Robeson,” Samuel Sullivan “Cox,” and Benjamin F. Butler. There is also a man carrying a basket labeled “Hens’ Rights Heroines” with busts of “Lockwood, E.C. Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Phoebe Cozzens [sic], [and] Lucy Stone.” President Cleveland is visible through a window on the right, conducting interviews for cabinet positions. Caption: Chorus of Journalistic Candidate-Peddlers – “Here y’are now! – I’ve got the only genuine article! – Don’t mind that other fellow!”

Collection

Creation Date

1884-12-17

Creator(s)

Blundering again!

A group of Democrats sit on a log raft that is breaking up within sight of land, with two logs labeled “New Jersey [and] New York” coming loose and drifting away. A small sail on the raft is labeled “Democra[…] Record.” Some are fighting amongst themselves. Allen G. Thurman is about to hit George Hoadly who is holding a paper labeled “Dem. Nomination for Gov. Ohio Hoadly”; John Kelly is fighting with Hubert O. Thompson who is holding a knife labeled “County Dem”; and behind them is Alexander V. Davidson labeled “Irving Hall” and holding a knife. Others seem on the brink of despair, including Abram S. Hewitt gnawing on a bone labeled “Tariff,” Charles A. Dana defiant of fate, Thomas F. Bayard sitting with his elbows on his knees, Winfield Scott Hancock who appears to have succumbed, Thomas Hendricks chewing on his fingers, an unidentified man searching the horizon, Henry Watterson, and Samuel J. Tilden. Only Benjamin F. Butler shows any sign of hope as he points toward shore and the U.S. Capitol labeled “1884.” Caption: The Democrats have their regular shindy just as they come in sight of land.

Collection

Creation Date

1883-09-26

Creator(s)

Helping the rascals in – a burglarious scheme that may be suddenly spoiled

James G. Blaine, wearing a top hat with three plumes, a sack labeled “For the Plunder” hanging from his neck, and a paper tied at his waist that states “20 Years on the Make,” attempts to break into the “White House” through an open window. He is being supported from below by Benjamin F. Butler who is sitting on the back of Charles A. Dana who is holding “The Sun” newspaper dated “June 16, 1884,” on which is written “Turn the Rascals Out!” Puck’s figure for the Independent Party has just come around the corner carrying a stick labeled “Independent Vote.”

Collection

Creation Date

1884-10-22

Creator(s)

The olympus of corruption – “Apollo strikes the lyre and charms the gods”

James Gillespie Blaine is pictured as Apollo playing a lyre labeled “N. Y. Tribune” fashioned from the body of Whitelaw Reid, before a gathering of the gods on Olympus. Among those present are Cyrus W. Field as Mercury, George M. Robeson as Neptune, Charles A. Dana as Minerva, Jay Gould as Zeus, Thomas Collier Platt, Robert Green Ingersoll, and Rutherford B. Hayes as angels, Chauncey Depew, W. H. Vanderbilt as Pluto, Russell Sage, William W. Phelps, John Roach as Vulcan, Stephen B. Elkins as Dionysus, Joseph Warren Keifer as Hercules, John Alexander Logan as Mars, Benjamin F. Butler as Venus, Stephen Wallace Dorsey and Thomas Jefferson Brady as putti, and John Kelly as an owl.

Collection

Creation Date

1884-10-08

Creator(s)