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Thomas E. Watson, William Randolph Hearst, and William Jennings Bryan push a wagon full of bricks—”free silver,” “government ownership,” “anti-imperialism,” and “populism”—on a rocky road. It is driven by a donkey that sits down and says, “I must sit down on this push.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-27
Extracts of letters in which Theodore Roosevelt discusses the silver sentiment, the resentment of some working class people for the wealthy and the part of organized labor in the upcoming election.
1896
William Jennings Bryan, as Romeo, hangs off a balcony, speaking to an old woman labeled “Democracy” as Juliet, with “Nurse Grover” Cleveland standing behind her. The full moon in the upper left is labeled “Free Silver.” Standing in the bushes below is William Randolph Hearst. Caption: Romeo — Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear, that tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops- / Juliet — Oh, swear not by the moon, that twice inconstant moon! / Romeo — All right, I’ll cut it out! It’s a dead one anyway!
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1906-07-11
William Jennings Bryan, walking along railroad tracks and following a sign “To Salt River,” drags a carpet bag which contains a gold cross, crown of thorns, bellows, and possibly a megaphone. Following him are Arthur Brisbane who is carrying a doll-like William Randolph Hearst, James K. Jones, Charles A. Towne, Richard F. Pettigrew, and Gardner F. Williams.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1904-07-20
William Jennings Bryan, as a pope wearing robes and a tiara labeled “16 to 1,” sits on a throne on a low pedestal labeled “Kansas City Platform.” Two Swiss guards stand next to him. The one on the left is labeled “Jones,” and the other on the right is labeled “Stone.” Caption: But Democrats have lost faith in his infallibility.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1902-06-25
William Jennings Bryan sits at a desk on which are papers labeled “Free Silver Speeches.” With a sorrowful look, he stares up at a raven perched on a bust of Pallas Athena. The raven wears a medallion labeled “Free Silver.” Caption: “On this home by horror haunted — tell me truly, I implore! — Is there — is there balm in Gilead? tell me, tell me, I implore! Quoth the Raven, ‘Nevermore!'”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1900-11-07
William Jennings Bryan offers a large knife labeled “16 to 1” to a laborer who is daydreaming about “Contentment.” The laborer sits next to a large bucket, labeled “1900,” of golden eggs labeled “Savings, Good wages, Steady work, No shut downs, Prosperity, [and] Good hours.” Bryan wants the laborer to use the knife to kill the goose, in the left foreground, labeled “Gold Standard” that lays the golden eggs.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1900-09-26
William Jennings Bryan pulls on strings attached to a skeleton labeled “16 to 1” trying to make it jump like a wooden toy. Caption: Bryan–They say it’s dead! Can’t you see it move?
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1900-06-06
Illustration showing two men escorting Admiral George Dewey down a street, on the left is a man labeled “McLean” and on the right is Joseph Pulitzer. On the left side of the street is the “Democratic Museum” and on the right of the street is the “Republican Museum,” and a sign on the left is directing them to the convention hall.
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Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1900-05-02
Illustration showing two gladiators, one labeled “Gold Standard” and the other labeled “Silver Standard,” in a coliseum, the “Gold Standard” gladiator stands victorious over the “Silver Standard” gladiator, his sword, labeled “16 to 1” lies broken at his side.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1900-03-14
President Roosevelt is frustrated at the newspapers for condemning the Republicans for their view on sound money. The Democrats’ candidate is boasting that he has supported the cause of free silver in the last two elections. Roosevelt believes that his campaign has no apology to make.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-11
This page of the journal reproduces a letter written by Robert Barnwell Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt’s uncle, in which he admits that though he has been a Democrat, he voted for William McKinley for president in the 1900 election. A text box with information about the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA), including contact information and its governance appears alongside the letter.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
2003
Alton B. Parker holds a lead rope attached to a Democratic donkey. A bag of “stupidity” and two planks—”silver planks” and “wild theories advocacy”—are attached to its tail. Parker says, “Let’s pretend it ain’t there, Jack!”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09
In the cartoon on the left, “Democracy” is a “political hobo” as he walks on the “free silver road.” In the cartoon on the right, “Democracy” greets “Wall Street,” who says, “My brother,” on “Belmont-Hill Road.” Democracy responds, “Yes, I’ve a strawberry mark on my left arm.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09
A Republican elephant carries a “16 to 1 issue” skeleton and a flag that says, “the silver question is not dead!” as it rushes forward. William Jennings Bryan sits on a fence and says, “When I did that, they said I was crazy!”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-28
Dame Democracy is startled when President Roosevelt shows her the portrait he painted as he holds a “letter of acceptance—a party that has no policy.” The likeness features a frame that reads, “Without policy or principle—the Democracy 1904.” In the portrait, Dame Democracy wears a “dire menace” hat, has “free trade” and “free silver” hair, and wears a “Parker fichu.” At the bottom of the picture is a sign: “Political portraits painted while you wait. T. Roosevelt.” Caption: Dame Democracy (the day after the letter came out)—Oh Theodore! How you do flatter me!!
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08
Alton B. Parker holds “that telegram” and puts “1904 gold” into a box while the ghost of Parker puts “1896-1900 silver” into a box.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-01
David B. Hill holds a bag of “silver” beside a “Democratic convention” wall. In the background, William Jennings Bryan is about to use a “free silver” axe as “democracy” kneels down and is tied to a “doubtful money” stake. Caption: Judas Iscariot (Hill) sold his party for a few pieces of silver.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-30
This cartoon shows Alton B. Parker at the voting booth in 1896, 1900, and 1904. In 1896 and 1900, he holds a “ballot (for free silver).” The captions for the first two read, “I voted for Bryan and Free Silver in 1896—” and “And again in 1900—” The last caption for 1904 reads, “But of course I regard the Gold Standard as irrevocably established.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-26
William Jennings Bryan and Grover Cleveland hold two kites. Bryan has a paper that reads, “free-silver or bust,” while Cleveland kicks a “declination” shoe through the kite. In the background, President Roosevelt flies a “1904” kite. Caption: The political kite-flying season will begin early this year.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-09