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David P. Barrows argues that fear is the most primal human emotion, and that even children understand the importance of overcoming fear, although adults do not help them do so. He discusses the importance of cultivating courage in people of all ages.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-06
A frightened man lies in bed, pulling up a blanket labeled “The Senate.” He sees in the darkness the spectacles and toothy grin of President Roosevelt. There is a glowing lamp on a table in the foreground.
Cartoonist J. S. Pughe’s depiction of a cowering Senate beset by harrowing visions of a ghostly President Roosevelt runs contrary to recent Puck cartoons that depicted the Senate and its ancient titans as significant opponents to the administration’s reform agenda.
Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia, sits on his throne. At his feet are an orb, a broken scepter, and a cleft shield showing St. George and the dragon. He is recoiling in horror at being mocked by a gathering of ghosts of the oppressed from ages past, while behind him anarchists with weapons, one about to throw a bomb, are preparing to strike.
Czar Nicholas II, on his throne in late 1905 was more than a decade from being forced to assuage his restive peoples with meaningless reforms, to abdicate, and to have himself and his family lived as peasants before being brutally murdered. This was in the future, as history knows, yet Carl Hassmann’s chilling portrayal of the Czar’s real position was true and prescient.
A nervous man clutches a “Life Insurance Policy.” Caption: The latest epidemic.
During the Muckraking Era there was a nexus of public skepticism, distaste, and opposition to large business operations and consolidations (trusts) and the negative publicity dealt to robber barons and corporate giants. Big business generally, and the super-rich, were under scrutiny. Reform was in the air.
Damocles, frightened, wearing a crown labeled “Industry,” stands beneath a large sword labeled “Coal Strikes” hanging by a single thread.
Perhaps the most important detail of Keppler’s cartoon is the “S” at the end of the word Strikes. In the public’s mind, and even history’s larger assumption, the Anthracite Coal Strike was settled in the fall of 1902. Mining production had resumed and the crisis of heating homes was averted. However, contentious negotiations were still ongoing between owners, miners, and arbitrators. Random incidents of strife still occurred (there had been violent coalfield deaths during the strike), and issues similar to the Pennsylvania Anthracite mines roiled elsewhere in the United States, especially in Colorado. Keppler’s cartoon was a reminder that labor strife continued and that industry, not only homes, was a potential victim.
A tiny dog labeled “Cuban Reciprocity” barks at a man who has climbed a fence out of fear. His hat labeled “Sugar Trust” has fallen to the ground.
The American “Sugar Trust” traditionally relied on sugar beets more than sugar cane, and its dominance was of course threatened by the prospect of an influx of cane sugar in the aftermath of the Spanish-American War. However, Cuban sugar exports were factors, worldwide, before the war, even when clumsily administered by Spanish colonials. What threatened the Sugar Trust and American producers was the possibility of free trade or low import duties on Cuban cane sugar as American policies toward its new territories played out.
![Partners in t[he] bogie business](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/theodorerooseveltcenter/TRC/LCPP/thumbnails/Puck/25300/LCPP_25399u.jpg)
Illustration showing two men, “Prof. Scarem” presenting his latest findings on microbes to a crowd of frightened onlookers, and “Dr. Fakem” selling the latest protection against microbes to a crowd of eager consumers. “Scarem” and “Fakem” are a pair of quacks working together to take advantage of a gullible public.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1900-02-28
Theodore Roosevelt responds with interest to Judge Nortoni’s telegram. Roosevelt hopes for good results but is also fearful.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-08-13
Theodore Roosevelt tells Ferdinand von Stumm that his point about Mexico is “perfectly fair.” If he had to, Roosevelt would choose blood-and-iron over milk-and-water, and he thinks it bad to arouse fear but worse to arouse contempt. Roosevelt thanks Stumm for his frank letter and hopes that he understands that what Roosevelt has said and written was with the intent toward justice, which is what he strove for as President. Roosevelt treated other countries with courtesy to increase friendship between them and the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-01-22
Vignettes show a “nervous congressman” suspecting everyone he meets to be a spy investigating him. Everyone he sees (a female companion, a “waiter,” “his constituents,” a “friend,” and a woman pushing an infant in a stroller) is carrying handguns and handcuffs, and he refuses the return of a loan for fear that it is “marked money.” A picture of Marcus Alonzo Hanna hangs on the wall of his congressional office. At night a demon that looks like Theodore Roosevelt torments his sleep.
The United States Secret Service, created by detective Allen Pinkerton during the Civil War, initially was formed with the charge to protect the president. Its role expanded to investigate land frauds and track counterfeit money, and other random duties.
![The “enfant ter[ri]ble” of Europe](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/theodorerooseveltcenter/TRC/LCPP/thumbnails/Puck/29100/LCPP_29147u.jpg)
Several European rulers stand next to signposts labeled “France, Turkey, England, Germany, Italy, Austria, [and] Russia” lining the sides of a dirt road, with “Servia” and “Roumania” in the background. The rulers are all keeping an eye on William II, the German Emperor, as he walks down the road between them.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1893-10-18
Two governesses, each with a child, visit in the park. One woman is having trouble controlling a little boy who is frightened of a policeman standing in the background. Caption: Miss Dolan–Oi’m a-goin’ to lave me place! / Miss O’Toole–Don’t yer loike th’ choild? / Miss Dolan–Yis; but he’s thot afeared av a policemon thot Oi can’t get him near wan!
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1894-01-10
Richard Croker as the Tammany Tiger clutches a large bag labeled “Spoils” and holds a whip labeled “Tammany” and, in his claws, a diminutive man who appears to be holding a paper that states “Robinson. Straight Republican Nomination 1893.” On the ground in front of the Tammany Tiger are bones labeled “1890, 1891, [and] 1892.” “Tom Platt” appears to have tossed Henry C. Robinson to the Tiger and is now fleeing to safety. Five men, one labeled “Republican,” are on the right and left, in the background, behind the safety of high walls. Among them, holding a long spear atop a palm tree, is Chauncey M. Depew. Caption: Rather than stand up and fight, they throw him a sop and run away.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1893-11-08
John Bull, labeled “England,” holds a model ship labeled “Trade.” Uncle Sam, also holding a model ship labeled “Trade,” is behind him. They stand before the Chinese Emperor who is frightened three men standing nearby: William II holding a sword labeled “Germany”, “France” holding a rifle, and Nicholas II holding two pistols labeled “Russia.” Caption: Uncle Sam (to John Bull)–Don’t scare him, John, the way those other fellows are doing. Tell him all we want is to have him open his harbors and markets to everybody!
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1898-02-02
President McKinley, with an enormous white elephant labeled “Philippines” wearing an eye patch labeled “Aguinaldoism” behind him, speaks to the 55th Congress. Many of the Congressmen react with fear, notably, George F. Hoar in the lower left foreground, and Speaker of the House Thomas B. Reed who drops the gavel. Caption: President McKinley (to the 55th Congress)–Now, gentlemen, I’ve done my share; – I pressed the Spaniards; you do the rest!
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1898-12-21
Print shows the ghost of the British Lion reacting with fear at finding an “Irish American” and a “German American” in a bed labeled “Anti Anglo-American Alliance.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1899-05-03
A formally dressed diminutive man stands on a dining table set for a banquet with dishes of fish, lobster, turkey, oysters, other foods, and bottles of alcohol blocking his path. Three attractive women in a large goblet extend glasses of wine, beckoning him to come to them. He has taken a step forward and wavers from fear or trepidation.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1914-07-25
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 young boy labeled “1914” sits in a chair, smoking, and offers Uncle Sam, sitting opposite him, a drink. He gestures toward two bottles labeled “Hope” and “Fear.” Caption: The New Year — Have something on me, old man! What’ll it be?
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1913-12-31
A woman pilots an airplane with a frightened female passenger. Caption: The Nervous One — But I understood you had to have a license! / Fair Aviator — Oh, yes. The final test is to take up a passenger and do stunts – that’s how I came to ask you.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1913-01-29