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Democrats and Republicans, capitalists, social reformers, political symbols, and others enjoy a summer outing at a park.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1904-08-17
New York City Mayor George B. McClellan and Police Commissioner William McAdoo are pictured washing the Tammany Tiger labeled “Corruption” and “Graft.” In the background, Tammany Hall boss Charles F. Murphy is posting a notice for the “Democratic Convention” on July 6 in Saint Louis, Missouri.
In 1904, New York City had a new Democratic mayor, George B. McClellan, son of the Civil War general and 1864 Democratic presidential candidate against Abraham Lincoln; and a new “boss” of Tammany Hall, the city’s corrupt Democrat machine.
New York Mayor Seth Low directs the bombardment of a Tammany Hall bunker flying a flag labeled “Tammany Graft.” Several men, among them former President Grover Cleveland, and Charles V. Fornes, pass shells labeled “Clean record, Capable administration, [and] Just return for taxes” for an “Anti-Tammany” howitzer. They are behind a sand-bag bunker labeled “Honest Government” and are flying the flag of “Municipal Reform.” Caption: “That ammunition fits our gun only.”
“Regulars and Irregulars” — cartoonist Keppler illustrated the “fusion” aspect of Mayor Seth Low’s New York City administration.In 1901 Low had been elected as a Reform Republican and Fusion candidate, on the Citizen’s Union ticket.
A hunter in the woods, carrying a rifle labeled “Gov. B. Odell,” stands next to a tree with a sign that states “Presidential Timber.” He is looking at a tiger labeled “Tammany.” Caption: Gov. Odell. — What a fine White House rug his skin would make!
The date of this cartoon gives extra significance to an otherwise mundane depiction of a New York governor having presidential ambitions. Around this time, New York had a surfeit of officials with publicly-discussed possibilities, if not credentials, to be president of the United States. Democrats had President Cleveland himself, a two-term president and a rumored candidate for 1904. Former Governor David Bennett Hill was a perennial aspirant. On the Republican side, Levi P. Morton had served as vice president under Benjamin Harrison, and serious consideration was afforded former Governor Frank S. Black, Lieutenant Governor Timothy Woodruff, and Governor Benjamin B. Odell. These discussions and putative career-paths were upset by the person and public acclaim of New Yorker Theodore Roosevelt… and, while he was Vice President, the assassination of President William McKinley. Also interesting is the fact that this cartoon was published only days before McKinley was shot.
Richard Croker, dressed in formal wear and wearing a sash labeled “Tammany,” proclaims that he/Tammany supports William Jennings Bryan for president while, behind his back, he slips a vote for William McKinley into the pot labeled “Nov. Election.”
This cartoon attacks Tammany Hall Boss Richard Croker for alleged hypocrisy. He endorsed Democrat William Jennings Bryan for President in 1900 but secretly favored Republican William McKinley’s reelection. Croker, if he had any economic views, was for “sound money” and the McKinley prosperity. Tammany candidates outpaced Bryan’s vote tally in New York City in 1896 and increased its margins in 1900, carrying the city despite the Republicans carrying the state. Yet Croker, through the 1900 campaign, softened his routine praise of Bryan, and suspended making predictions at all. Despite the profiles of Tammany Hall members, and his own scruffy appearance (his gray-striped beard invited cartoonists’ depictions as the Tammany Tiger itself), Croker was a prosperous figure who bred racehorses. He was perhaps comfortable with President McKinley, yet always towing the Democrat line.
Theodore Roosevelt valued the editorial from Horace G. Knowles, and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt was pleased with the tiger skin.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-19
Theodore Roosevelt enjoyed the account of L. H. Mosier’s experience with a tiger. He found the account believable and sees nothing supernatural or miraculous about the event.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-02-03
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Reverend William Way that there are no tigers in any part of Africa, but the leopard is sometimes called the “tiger,” similar to how the jaguar in South America is sometimes called a “tiger.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-12-17
A Tammany tiger and a Democratic donkey stand shoulder-to-shoulder, but look away from one another. On the ground are broken weapons and a skull.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-01
President Roosevelt has his big stick at his feet and holds out his hands toward a snake, a lion, a tiger, a giraffe, a rhino, and a monkey. The “G.O.P.” elephant says, “He hypnotized me.”
The Washington Herald’s Joseph Harry Cunningham paid subtle compliments to President Roosevelt in this cartoon that was published precisely a week before the Republican National Convention would convene in Chicago. Presidents did not attend their parties’ conventions in those times, nor did candidates unless they were nominated in last-minute stampedes or compromises.
The Tammany Tiger lies on its back on a bed, apparently dead. A notice on the wall states, “The Tammany Tiger Executed by the People, November 6, 1894.” Archbishop Michael Corrigan kneels at the bedside, cranking “Corrigan’s Battery” which is connected to the front paws of the Tiger by wires that spell “Church Influence.” Thomas Collier Platt stands at the foot of the bed, cranking on a battery labeled “Headquarters of the Republican ‘Boys'” which is connected to electrodes in the back paws of the Tiger by wires that spell “Political Deals.” A bucket of water and a sponge lie on the floor at the foot of the bed, and the New York State Capitol at Albany is in the background. Caption: Despite the efforts of prelate and politician the cat will not come back.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1894-12-12
In the aftermath of a battle, David B. Hill is draped over a cannon, while Charles A. Dana and many New York politicians, identified as “Croker, Grant, Hinckley, Sheehan, Gilroy, Murphy, McLaughlin, Smyth, [and] Divver,” as well as the Tammany Tiger, appear to have some wound or injury. Puck is standing on the right holding a military standard that states, “The Principles We Fought For. Free Raw Materials – Civil Service Reform – Honest Money – Economical Government.” Caption: Puck–It is for the benefit of any party to be purified of its baser elements!
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1894-11-21
Charles H. Parkhurst holds a sword labeled “Evidence Against Tammany” and waves the tail he has cut off the Tammany Tiger labeled “Lexow Investigation Exposures,” lying dead at his feet. In the background, holding rifles and spears and waving their hats, are Charles S. Fairchild, William R. Grace, Joseph Larocque, and Oswald Ottendorfer.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1894-11-07
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
The Tammany Tiger, with a shamrock on his hat, hugs a woman labeled “New York City” atop a bridge support tower with a view of the Statue of Liberty in the background. Caption: “Does oo love oo Tigy-Wigy?”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1893-11-01
Uncle Sam hangs onto a young woman labeled “Philippines” who is dangling over a cliff labeled “U.S.” above a canyon where a tiger labeled “Spanish Misrule” and a wolf labeled “Aguinaldoism” await her fall from Uncle Sam’s grasp.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1898-11-23
John Kelly holds a shillelagh in one hand and a rope tied to an injured tiger labeled “Tammany” with bandages labeled “1880, 1882, [and] 1884” in the other, standing outside the “White House” gate. Grover Cleveland stands on the other side of the wall, holding a rifle. A sign posted on the wall states, “Resolved that – Tammany Hall recommends to the attention of the Presidents the prominent members of this organization as worthy of recognition in selection for public service. March 13th.” Caption: John Kelly – “What say you – Peace or War?” / Cleveland – “War, Johnny, war!”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1885-03-25