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A man, possibly Joseph Pulitzer, dressed as a jester and holding papers labeled “Income Tax Law,” stands before a woman labeled “Democracy” sitting in a chair labeled “Congress.” “Democracy” holds a quill pen in her hand and appears to be pondering whether to sign the bill. In the background, a man with a ballot box for a head and with one finger raised tells her not to sign the bill.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1894-02-07
Uncle Sam reclines in a chair with his feet resting on a foot stool. On a table next to him are medications labeled “Tariff Reform Tonic” and “Repeal of Sherman Silver Law Elixir.” Benjamin Harrison stands at center holding a large “Certificate of Death – Died of Democratic Rule.” He is attended by several men with their mourning hats, including Thomas Collier Platt, Charles A. Boutelle, Whitelaw Reid, George F. Hoar, and Thomas B. Reed. They have come to pay their last respects.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1893-09-06
A democratic approach to the mingling of social classes is depicted with vignettes showing the rich buying their clothes from “honest merchants” regardless how poorly they will fit, eating at “plain oyster-houses, like the masses,” riding in crude horse-drawn wagons rather than fine carriages and coaches, spending time at local “social organizations of the humble,” participating in barn dances, and attending “simple variety shows” where their diamonds will provide as much entertainment for the lower classes as the vaudeville show. Caption: They must give up their purse-proud extravagance, and get right down to democratic simplicity.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1897-02-24
Theodore Roosevelt congratulates women in New York State on obtaining the right to vote. He asks that they fulfill the duties and obligations that come along with such a privilege and believes that women will do much to further social and industrial justice. He particularly asks for them to fulfill the duty of patriotism required during the war.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1917-11-20
Theodore Roosevelt says that because World War I is a war for democracy, it is essentially the working man’s war. The United States went to war with Germany because of its killing of innocent American civilians. He recognizes the sermons of Newell Dwight Hillis of Brooklyn, who has witnessed the “atrocities” of the German military firsthand. He says not only must America help countries in Europe, but it must also strengthen its military for the future.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1917-09-30
President Roosevelt speaks at former President Lincoln’s home in Springfield, Illinois, about the lasting impact of Lincoln. He discusses the greatness of our forefathers as an inspiration for the current generation to do great. He discusses the current state of American government and its role internationally, as well as individual citizens’ responsibilities.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-06-04
A galley labeled “Government Of, By, and For the People” sails past rocks labeled “Bossism” where other ships have wrecked, drawn by “Party Solidarity” sung by Republican sirens “Connors, Aldrich, Cox, Penrose, Woodruff, [and] Lodge” and “Partisanship” sung by Democratic sirens “Mack, Conners, Murphy, [and] Taggart” sitting on rocks above the crashing seas. Caption: The old stuff doesn’t go any more.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1910-06-01
Benjamin F. Butler, as Topsy from Uncle Tom’s Cabin, stands in front of an old woman labeled “Dem.” who is holding a switch labeled “Discipline” behind her back. In the background, on the floor, are broken dishes labeled “Corruption, Spoils System, The Machine, [and] Old Notions,” also a framed portrait of Andrew Jackson labeled “Jacksonian Principles,” and over a dresser is a cracked mirror labeled “Old Reflections on B.B.” The bottom of one of Topsy’s shoes is labeled “Independence.” Caption: Topsy “I ‘spect you can’t do nuffin’ with me, Miss – I’se used to whippin’. Golly! I’se so wicked!!”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-05-23
Outside a building labeled “Washington Inn” with an image of the U.S. Capitol on the sign, a large group of Republican legislators, politicians, and others are laughing at an old man wearing tattered clothing labeled “Democracy.” He looks dazed, as though he has just wandered in from the past; his walking stick is dated “1861.” Two dogs labeled “N.Y. Tribune” and “N.Y. Times” sniff at his heels. Among those present are George M. Robeson, Ulysses S. Grant, John Logan, James Gillespie Blaine, Chester Alan Arthur (dressed as a woman, serving food and drinks), Charles J. Folger, George Frisbie Hoar, Joseph Warren Keifer, Horace F. Page, William Mahone (doing a hand-stand), J. D. Cameron, Roscoe Conkling, John Sherman, George F. Edmunds, John P. Jones, and Thomas Collier Platt.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-03-14
Print shows William Jennings Bryan, John P. Jones, and Arthur P. Gorman mesmerized by a large menacing genie carrying a sword labeled “Free Silver” that has emerged from an oversized urn. George G. Vest has his ear to the ground and is unaware of the presence of the genie.
Caption: “At the appearance of this huge monster, the fisherman wished to run away; but his fear was so great he was unable to move.” The Arabian Nights Entertainments.
A man labeled “Republican War Record” stands in a pond labeled “Republican Corruption Water,” yelling to an Irishman wearing a hat labeled “Democracy,” gathering up the Republican’s clothing labeled “Tariff Reform, Free Canal, [and] Reduction Tax,” and a top hat labeled “Civil Service Reform” which he has placed on top of his own hat. His own tattered clothes are patched with “Ignorance, Poverty, Stupidity, Bourbonism, [and] Secession Record.” Caption: Republican “Hey, what can I do without them?” Democracy “What have you done with them – only cast them off!”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1882-08-02
Puck stands next to the symbolic figure labeled “Independent” who is undergoing a blood transfusion with an old man labeled “Democracy” sitting in a chair. Among the men depicted observing the operation are Carl Schurz, Henry Ward Beecher, and Henry Watterson.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1884-12-03
A bear labeled “N.Y. Democracy” climbs a tree labeled “New York” and “N.Y. State Patronage Hive” to get at the honey. However, a block of wood labeled “Tammany Kelly” suspended by a rope labeled “60,000 voters” keeps getting in the bear’s way. Caption: Democratic Bear “If it wasn’t for that log, I’d have had that honey long ago, and the more I thrust it away the harder it hits me!”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1882-08-16
William Jennings Bryan, standing on the veranda of the “Hotel Jefferson,” attracts the attention of several women labeled “Penn Democracy, Illinois Democracy, Ohio Democracy, New York Democracy, Indiana Democracy, Georgia Democracy, VT Democracy, R.I. Democracy, Maine Democracy, Ark. Democracy, N.J. Democracy, Mass. Democracy” and “Mo. Dem.” The woman from Ohio is holding a book “Bryanecdotes.” Bryan’s vest is decorated with donkeys and a watch or key fob has the head of a donkey at the end.
One of the cliches about social habits of the day was that urban families fled to farms and rural resorts in summer months, and that “eligible” women and young men looking for dates or wives flocked to seaside resorts. Uncountable cartoons and short stories in magazines from the 1880s onward found creative fodder in these social conventions.
Theodore Roosevelt is curious about whether William Sheffield Cowles, Jr. chose the Navy, and provides updates on Kermit Roosevelt’s health and career plans. Roosevelt has an opportunity to change his current trip’s itinerary and go down an unknown river. He is pleased at the reception in South America and has been able to give his views on the Monroe doctrine and on democracy in general.
1913-11-11
President Roosevelt talks about the importance of sincere goodwill in society, specifically referencing the book A Simple Life by Charles Wagner as an inspiration.
1902
Gustavus Lane Monroe quotes from Walt Whitman’s poems “For You O Democracy” and “Song of Myself,” and argues that President Roosevelt epitomizes Whitman’s ideal man. “It may be that through him Democracy will attain to its perfection.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-05
An unknown author scolds Senator John C. Spooner for making a statement that the country would be better off with a Republican executive and legislature for the next twenty years.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-10-25
Since his arrival in the United States, Vice President Alzamora has been pleased with the “cordial and brotherly feeling” displayed towards Peru. He hopes for more “intimate commercial and social relations” between Peru and the United States. Peru welcomes North American workers and has high hopes for the railroad concessions given to the Pacific Company. Peruvians share the ideals and ambitions laid out in the Declaration of Independence and the country is seeking to cooperate with other American republics for unity and mutual benefit.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-04