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A well-dressed Robert Green Ingersoll carries two large bags of money labeled “Counsel Fees” as he departs the “Washington Court House.” Exiting on the right side, wearing tattered clothing, are defendants Thomas Jefferson Brady and Stephen Wallace Dorsey.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-06-20
Graetz, F. (Friedrich), approximately 1840-approximately 1913
A large group of politicians and others stand in a cemetery on Memorial Day. Each seems to be grieving at gravestones that bear special messages. Pope Leo XIII stands in front of a stone that states “Here lies my Irish Influence.” Ulysses S. Grant places a wreath labeled “Tho’ Gone Not Forgotten” at a monument that states “Here Lies the Third Term 1880.” Stephen Dorsey and Thomas Brady, arm in arm, stand in front of a stone that states “[Star] Route Here Lies Our Hope of Acquittal.” James G. Blaine places a wreath on a stone that states “[He]re Lies My South American Policy.” Samuel J. Tilden and Charles A. Dana stand in front of a stone that states “Tilden Boom 1876 Rest in Peace.” Clustered around Grant are Roscoe Conkling holding a tattered military standard labeled “Stalwart Battle Flag 1880,” J. D. Cameron on crutches labeled “1882,” John A. Logan as a drummer with number “306” on his drum strap, and Thomas Collier Platt as a little girl. Also grouped before a stone that states “Here Lies Democratic Consistency on the Tariff” are Benjamin F. Butler, Winfield Scott Hancock, Rutherford B. Hayes, and Stephen B. Elkins. Others depicted are Simon Cameron, John Kelly, Jay Gould, George W. Childs, George M. Robeson, David Davis, Robert Ingersoll, Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa, and a man identified as “Campbell.” Caption: They deck with flowers, this Day of Decoration, full many a blighted hope and reputation.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-05-30
Robert Green Ingersoll, attorney in the Star Route trials, pumps Montfort C. Rerdell, depicted as a pump, for more “Evidence” as Thomas Jefferson Brady and Stephen Wallace Dorsey stand in the “Prisoners Box.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-03-07
Puck’s Independent Party figure sits on the left next to Puck beneath a sign that states “Independent Road to the White House.” At center, A. M. Clapp, with a cash box labeled “Republican Campaign Fund” and a sheet of paper that states “Permission to Remain in Office,” appears with Green B. Raum, who is holding a box labeled “Absolution” containing papers that state “Indispensable Dispensation,” selling indulgences for absolutions and dispensations to an old woman with a broom labeled “U. S.,” a “U. S. Scrub-Woman,” a “Page,” a “Treasy. Clerk,” and a “U. S. Postman” holding a paper that is a “Guarantee against Decapitation.” In the background, Whitelaw Reid carries a banner that states “The Republican Party is the Party of Salvation,” Thomas Jefferson Brady and Stephen Dorsey carry banners that state “The Republican Party Must Stay No Matter How” and “This is Our Last Chance,” and Powell Clayton drives a wagon carrying a safe labeled “Funds for an Aggressive Campaign.” Also depicted are William Walter Phelps with a paper that states “Its Only a Matter of Money” and Robert Ingersoll holding a paper labeled “Sweet C. O. D.” Caption: In the sixteenth century, Tetzel and his corrupt fellow-priests openly sold absolutions and dispensations, and played upon the fears of the people to fill their coffers, and keep themselves in power and place and shameful luxury. A little later, they were swept under in the cleansing flood of the great reformation. Will the star-route money-leeches please take notice that history repeats itself?
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1884-08-12
James Gillespie Blaine is the “plumed knight” wearing cabbage leaves on his head with two plumes labeled “Brag” and “Bluster,” and with a quill pen labeled “Gail Hamilton.” He holds a sword labeled “Guano Statesmanship” and a shield labeled “Monopoly Press,” and his legs are the bars of a horseshoe magnet labeled “Spoils System.” He sits on a pile of “Mulligan Letters” and “R. R. Bonds.” Attracted to the magnet are George M. Robeson labeled “Navy Swindles,” Whitelaw Reid, John A. Logan labeled “Hoodlum,” Col. John A. Joyce labeled “Ex-Convict,” Stephen W. Dorsey, William P. Kellogg labeled “Louisiana Frauds,” Joseph W. Keifer labeled “Speakership Corruption,” Cyrus W. Field labeled “‘L’ Road Swindle,” Jay Gould labeled “R. R. Wrecker,” Robert G. Ingersoll labeled “Star Route Plunder,” John Roach labeled “Navy Jobs,” Alonzo B. Cornell labeled “Blind Pool,” Thomas Collier Platt labeled “Me Too!!”, Schuyler Colfax labeled “Credit Mobilier,” Thomas J. Brady labeled “Star Router,” Powell Clayton labeled “Arkansas Frauds,” Russell Sage labeled “Wall Street Stock Gambler,” and Roscoe Conkling.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1884-06-25
At a dinner party is presidential candidate James Gillespie Blaine, who is trying to cover himself with pages of the New York Tribune, and by his side, vice-presidential candidate John A. Logan. Seated around a table set with “Pension Pie, Monopoly Stew, [and] Star Route Shortcake” are James W. Husted, Chancey M. Depew, Powell Clayton, Joseph Medill, Stephen W. Dorsey, Thomas J. Brady, a man identified as “Elkins,” William H. Vanderbilt, Jay Gould, Cyrus W. Field, Whitelaw Reid on his feet, John Roach, and Robert G. Ingersoll fleeing with a bone labeled “Star Route Spoils.” Blaine wears an “Anti-Sunstroke Cabbage Leaf” on his head, to which is attached a quill pen labeled “Gail Hamilton.” Projected onto a wall at the far end of the room are the words “Republican Revolt,” which has frightened everyone in the room.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1884-06-18
A procession carries an embalmed James Gillespie Blaine to a place among other embalmed Republicans in an Egyptian tomb. Among those previously embalmed are Thomas Collier Platt, Stephen W. Dorsey, Thomas Brady, Ulysses S. Grant, Roscoe Conkling, George M. Robeson, Joseph W. Keifer, William P. Kellogg, and William Belknap. Among those carrying the embalmed Blaine, labeled “Nominated June 6, Embalmed Nov. 1884” are William W. Phelps, Whitelaw Reid, William H. Robertson, Powell Clayton, and Joseph Medill. Caption: The wire-pullers have nominated him; but the people will send him where they have sent the others.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1884-06-11
President Arthur appears as a magician on a stage, pulling cards out of a hat and tossing them into the audience. The cards are labeled “Secretary of Navy, Foreign Minister, Interior, Consulate, Collectorship, Soft Soap, Minister to Turkey, Quashed Endictment, Secretary of War, Protection, Postmaster, Promises, Gratitude, [and] Reciprocity.” On the stage are other magic devices, a “Great Machine Trick” showing cards and labeled “New Political Deal Trick,” a wheel labeled “Stalwartism Neutrality Halfbreedism,” a bottle labeled “Ever-lasting Patronage Bottle,” a cone labeled “Great Veto Extinguish Trick,” and a drum labeled “Last Grand Trick Resignation.” Among those in the audience are Carl Schurz, John A. Logan, Thomas De Witt Talmage, David Davis, Joseph W. Keifer, John P. Jones, Stephen W. Dorsey, Thomas J. Brady, William M. Evarts, Benjamin F. Butler, and Samuel J. Kirkwood. Caption: What Mr. Arthur must be to satisfy all the politicians.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1881-10-12
![A grand Shakesperian [sic] revival](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/theodorerooseveltcenter/TRC/LCPP/thumbnails/Puck/28500/LCPP_28518u.jpg)
Print shows Chester A. Arthur as King Henry IV on a cobblestone street, with Jay Gould and William H. Vanderbilt holding his cape, and accompanied by John P. Jones; he is accosted by Roscoe “Sir John” Conkling who proposes to speak on behalf of Thomas C. “Master Shallow” Platt. Behind them are Thomas J. Brady and Stephen W. Dorsey. Ulysses S. Grant and John A. Logan are standing on the left, at the head of Arthur’s entourage. Includes text for brief exchange between Arthur and Conkling from “(2nd Part of King Henry IV, Act V – Sc. 5)”. Caption: (Which we have but little hope of seeing on the stage of the National Capitol).
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1881-10-05
Print shows a fireworks display with Puck bowing on a stage in front of a “Fan Light” featuring the likenesses of William H. Vanderbilt, Russell Sage, Cyrus W. Field, and Jay Gould; on stage with Puck is a hand holding a smoldering torch which may represent Bartholdi’s hand and torch from the Statue of Liberty. On the left is a pagoda labeled “Puck Office” and on the right is a building labeled “Tammany Hall.” Among the fireworks are many faces of politicians and other prominent figures of the day, some labeled by type of firework, such as “Chicago Shower” – Arthur, Grant, Conkling, Logan and Cameron; “Tumbler” – Tilden; “Twister” – Schurz; “The Falling Tammany Star” – Kelly; “Bomb” – Davis; “Junk Whizzler” – Robeson; “Polar Rocket” – Bennett; “Buster” – Butler; and “Star Route Staggerer” – Dorsey. Others shown are James G. Blaine, Henry Ward Beecher, Elizabeth Tilton(?), Thomas De Witt Talmage, and Theodore Tilton.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1882-07-05
Whitelaw Reid places a bundled-up package labeled “Blaine” and “Rotten Record” on top of a large pile in a basket being carried by a woman labeled “Republican Party” who is stooped under the burden and leaning on a staff labeled “War Record.” Others already in the basket are “Kellogg” labeled “Returning Board & Star Ro,” “Keifer” labeled “Speakership Corruption,” “Dorsey” labeled “Star Route Swindle,” “Brady” labeled “Star Route Swindle,” “Robeson” labeled “Navy Ring,” “Grant’s IId Term Washington Ring,” and “Belknap” who resigned as Grant’s Secretary of War in 1876. A man labeled “Phelps Whitewasher” is holding the ladder for Reid.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1884-05-14
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.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1884-11-26
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.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1884-11-19
Print shows Wayne MacVeagh wearing a workman’s apron and holding papers labeled “Wayne McVeagh Resignation,” standing in front of a brick wall with a large star on it labeled “To be Bricked up for Star Route Jobbery,” with an opening showing Stephen W. Dorsey and Thomas J. Brady. Bricks and mortar labeled “Retribution Mortar” are at the base of the wall, and a pile of “Investigation Sand” is to the left. Caption: McVeagh “Good bye, my brethren; you thoroughly deserve to be bricked up; but I’m afraid I can’t wait to finish the job!”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1881-10-05
In an opium den labeled “Bloody Shirt Joint – Blaine and Reid Managers,” James G. Blaine passes out pipes labeled “Tribune Editorials, Blaine’s Augusta Speech, Blaine Speeches, [and] Speeches” to fellow Republicans labeled “Chandler, J. Roach, Evarts, Cornell, Logan, Hoar, Foraker, J. Sherman, Brady, Dorsey, [and] Reid,” Unidentified is Elihu Root and the man dreaming of becoming the “Secy. of Navy.” They have resorted to opium as the panacea for their political woes and while in their drug-induced stupor they dream of Blaine’s ascendancy to the presidential throne and of themselves becoming members of Blaine’s cabinet.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1885-09-23
The spirits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln look at a throne draped with an American flag beneath a sign that states, “This coming term will end the first hundred years of the American presidency. Shall the century begun with Washington at the head of government end in disgrace with James G. Blaine in that sacred chair?” Below is Blaine, tattooed with scandals and frightened by the shades of past presidents, his hat labeled “Corruption” falling off, with his foot on the first step toward the presidency. Leaning against his back is Jay Gould holding a paper that states “Four Supreme Court judges to be appointed by the next president.” Also behind Blaine, on his hands and knees, is Stephen W. Dorsey, next to a paper on the floor that states, “Honesty No Requisite for the Presidency (Blaine’s Theory).” On the right stands Benjamin F. Butler as a court jester labeled “Barcain with Blaine.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1884-10-29
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.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1884-10-08
James Gillespie Blaine is dressed as a knight, with the plumes of his helmet labeled “Dodger, Speakership Record, [and] Mulligan Letters.” He holds papers labeled “Aggressive Cash Campaign” and has his other hand in a bag of money labeled “Vote Persuader.” He is riding in a wagon labeled “J. G. Blaine, Unlicensed Vendor, Stocks, Political Influence, etc.,” the seat of which is labeled “Compressed Magnetism.” William Walter Phelps is riding on the back of the wagon, sitting on boxes of “Condensed Fireworks” and “Campaign Lies, Scandals.” He is holding a portrait painting of George Washington labeled “J. G. Blaine.” At the front of the wagon, “Dorsey, Brady, [Robeson, and] Keifer” are pulling, and at the back “Gould, Clapp, [and] Clayton” are pushing. Whitelaw Reid marches alongside as a one-man band playing a horn labeled “Brag,” a drum labeled “Bluster,” an organ labeled “Blaine Organ,” a bellows labeled “Campaign Wind,” and firing a cannon labeled “Blaine Orgun.” Stephen B. Elkins, in the background on the left, waves a whip that spells “Enthusiasm,” and former Vice President Schuyler Colfax, with a “Credit Mobilier” plume in his cap, carries the standard that states, “Westward The Star of Corruption Fakes its Way.” They are passing a sign that states “To Ohio.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1884-10-01
James Gillespie Blaine is dressed as a knight, with the plumes of his helmet labeled “Speakership Record, Mulligan Letters, [and] Credit Mobilier.” He holds papers labeled “Aggressive Cash Campaign,” and rests his left hand on the head of William Walter Phelps who is holding a sword and a battered shield labeled “Blaines Magnetism.” Whitelaw Reid, wearing a paper hat, carries a standard that states “Moral Ideas,” (crossed out) “Soap and Success!” Stephen B. Elkins presents a “Report” to John Alexander Logan and Blaine that states “Great Victory in Maine! Blaine Vindicated! Cost $265,000.” Charles A. Dana sits in the lower right corner pouring “Personal Animosity” into cannonballs labeled “Personal Animosity, Spite, Mud Bombs, [and] Malice.” Frederick Douglass holds a sign labeled “Mulligan Guards Blaine’s Record” that appears to have drawn considerable enemy fire. On the left, “A. M. Clapp” turns his empty pockets inside out and George M. Robeson looks at an empty cash barrel. In the background, there is action at the “Whiskey Arsenal, Fort Cleveland, Polls, [and] Fort St. John” and casualties on the battlefield. Caption: “Another victory like this and our money’s gone!”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1884-09-17
At a boathouse is an exhausted James Gillespie Blaine, suffering from “Guano Gout,” being attended by Jay Gould, Whitelaw Reid, George M. Robeson, William Walter Phelps, and Stephen B. Elkins who is searching a box of patent medicines labeled “Remedy, Record Cleaner, Tariff Fever Cure, R.R. Record Purifier, Tattoo Eradicator, [and] Vermont Reviver (Homoepathic)” for a cure. John A. Logan readies the racing shell labeled “Aggressive Campaign” that may be stuck in “Monopoly Mud,” and Stephen Wallace Dorsey, at the entrance to the boathouse, carries oars labeled “Soap” and [Star] “Router.” Hanging on the wall are shells and oars labeled “Guano Statesmanship, Speaker Ship’s Record Boat, Senatorial Record, [and] Tariff Issue.” Grover Cleveland waits in his racing shell labeled “Reform” and Carl Schurz stands at the entrance to the “Independent Boat House” which is next to the “Democratic Boat House.” In the background is a crowded grandstand. Caption: Logan – “Come, Jim, show some nerve, or nobody won’t believe you’re in the race! Ain’t you never going to be aggressive?”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1884-09-10