United States

A man, probably Perry Belmont, labeled “New Democracy,” wears a hat with plume labeled “1904” and holds a crossbow labeled “Jeffersonian Principles.” William Jennings Bryan sits on the Democratic donkey, speaking and gesticulating wildly with his hands. His hat labeled “Populism” hangs on a post on which is a note that states “Please Bow. W.J.B.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Perry Belmont and his brother August H. Belmont, Jr., seldom were more than behind-the-scenes brokers in the Democratic Party. Their father, August Belmont, Senior (nee August Shoenberg in Germany and originally the American representative of the Rothschild banking interests) likewise was a quiet influence, although he had served as Chairman of the Democrat Party. In 1901 the Belmont brothers went public with criticism of William Jennings Bryan and the Populist influence on their party. Perry, likely Dalrymple’s subject, is wearing a feather labeled “1904,” but he never had electoral ambitions of his own: his public criticism at this time was focused on the fortunes of the national Democratic Party, specifically the 1904 presidential election. At this time there were movements of reform aimed at the self-described reformers in the Democratic Party, Bryanites and former Populists. At the time of this cartoon, Seth Low resigned as president of Columbia University to run for New York City mayor on the Citizens Union (Fusion) ticket, and attracted anti-Tammany Democrat support in his victory.

An “Absentee Millionaire” stands on land labeled “Europe” spraying money from a hose connected to an “American Hydrant source of income,” suggesting that wealthy Americans spend more money in Europe than in their own country.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1901-08-28

An old man labeled “Progressive Republican” tries to pull an aged and battered elephant labeled “G.O.P.” from where it kneels before a golden idol with a “$” on its chest, sitting on a pedestal labeled “High Protection Idol.” The elephant has wrapped its trunk around a bar attached to the “High Tariff Altar.” In the background, the U.S. Capitol beams “Fair Trade.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Interesting aspects of this cartoon relate to the term “Progressive” being attached to the anti-Protectionist Republican. One is Puck‘s positive characterization of free-trade advocates. More interesting is the adjective “progressive” — a term not in general use in 1901. In five years or so, reformist Republicans were called “Insurgents” and after a decade or so, “Progressive” was a term applied to Republicans, then Democrats, who favored a program of political, economic, and social reforms. Thus this cartoon was, perhaps unintentionally, prophetic. 

A thin, tattered “Pullman Sleeping Car Porter” holds a piece of paper “Tips Daily Average on each Trip” which shows a 70% reduction in tips between 1890 and 1900. At the bottom it states “Pullman Porter’s Labor Union.” He is appealing to the president of the railroad company to become a salaried employee. An insert shows the Pullman porter “As we used to know him,” plump, with his pockets stuffed with cash and with rings on his fingers. Caption: “Say, Boss, if the public won’t pay me my wages any longer I guess the company ‘ll have to do it!”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1901-09-04

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!

comments and context

Comments and Context

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.

Uncle Sam holds up a balance scale with “Labor” on the left and “Capital” on the right. When the two are balanced the scale points toward “Prosperity,” and when uneven the scale points toward “Depression.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1901-09-18

Uncle Sam stands at center, gesturing to the left toward American soldiers boarding ships to return to America after defeating the Spanish in the Philippines, and gesturing to the right toward a group of matronly women, one labeled “Daughters of the Revolution,” who have just arrived to educate the peoples of the Philippines. Caption: Uncle Sam–You have seen what my sons can do in war – now see what my daughters can do in peace.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Ehrhart’s cartoon perfectly illustrates the United States’ stated intention toward the Philippine Islands after Spain’s surrender in the Spanish-American War, moreover, President McKinley’s goal of “Christianizing” the natives. He declared this goal after he was reluctantly persuaded to declare war and the post-war reality was different, as rebels led by Emilio Aguinaldo fiercely resisted the American occupiers in what would be several years of bloody guerrilla battles. The cartoon intended to portray noble intentions, yet was somewhat patronizing — among the women uplifters is a domestic servant with a carpet-beater, implying that natives lacked basic customs of cleanliness. 

Illustration showing two concerned citizens and Joseph Pulitzer imploring Uncle Sam, dressed as a U.S. policeman, to break up a fight taking place in the background labeled “South Africa” between John Bull and Paul Kruger.

comments and context

Comments and Context

The concerned citizens in Pughe’s cartoon are meant to represent missionaries and clergymen, appealing for humanitarian intervention in the Second Boer War. Joseph Pulitzer, as Publisher of the New York World and de facto leader of the Democrat Party press, urged intervention as he had previously in Cuba. The fight between Great Britain and the Boers (“Farmers”) is depicted by John Bull, the traditional symbol of England, and “Oom” (Uncle) Paul Kruger, leader of the insurgent Transvaal (South African Republic) and the neighboring Orange Free State.

President Roosevelt writes to Emperor William II to inform him that the United States is pleased to accept a statue of Frederick the Great to be erected in Washington, D.C.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-05-15

President Roosevelt writes to James D. Fox to discuss the opposition from Filipino Catholics against the Spanish friars in the Philippines. Roosevelt believes the United States should purchase the friars’ lands.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-07-18

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Jane Addams for supporting him at the National Progressive Convention and for seconding his nomination. He hopes that women will be involved in all levels of the Progressive Party during the 1912 election and into the future.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-08-08

Theodore Roosevelt writes to John H. Bernhard to thank him for the letter and the $50 check. He encourages Bernhard to become a United States citizen.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-07-01

Theodore Roosevelt tells W. E. D. Stokes that it will take many years to solve all the problems Stokes mentioned in his letter. Two copies, one slightly edited.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-06-07

Theodore Roosevelt writes to Ambassador James Bryce about a treaty regarding nations currently and formally of the British Empire and is surprised at what the treaty contains.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-02

Theodore Roosevelt comments on John St. Loe Strachey’s editorials on Roosevelt’s attempts as governor of New York, as president, and as a political figure to “strengthen the bonds of good will, regard, and sympathy” between the United States and England. He also talks on his former statements about the office of the presidency – how, if he had explicitly stated that he did not believe in a president’s holding a consecutive third term, then all his enemies would have believed he was announcing his bid for a second term before the first had finished. Likewise, Roosevelt believes that he could not honorably back out of his current presidential campaign due to a desire for moderate progress akin to George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, William Pitt, Thomas Babington Macaulay, and the Whigs of the reform bill.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-03-26

Theodore Roosevelt expresses appreciation for Joseph P. O’Mahony’s letter and editorials, praising his stance on the arbitration treaty and socialism. Roosevelt notes his strong opposition to the treaty and commends O’Mahony for defending American values and popular rights in his editorial work.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-12

In a fragment of a letter, Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary objects to giving an opinion for publication but encourages Mark Leland Hill O’Dea to read previous publications in which Roosevelt speaks on the matter. Roosevelt recommends travelers seek the Pacific coast, but is unwilling to endorse a specific movement, as it would mean he should endorse hundreds of other movements.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-02

Frederic J. Paxon asks Theodore Roosevelt for his views on John E. White’s statements regarding arbitration and the interpretation of Roosevelt’s position on international treaties.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-14

In a reply to Arthur Hamilton Lee, Theodore Roosevelt describes the activities and achievements of the Roosevelt family, including the impending birth of his grandchild to Theodore Roosevelt Jr. and Eleanor Butler Roosevelt. Roosevelt expresses relief at the end of his public speaking career and is more preoccupied by his interest in natural history than in politics, including his upcoming article, “Revealing and Concealing Coloration in Birds and Mammals.” Roosevelt then goes on to discuss politics, including his approval of the current British king, expresses frustration with the American people, and discusses President Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-27

Theodore Roosevelt writes to Frank M. Chapman about the Popular Science article and a criticism of Roosevelt’s “Appendix E” by Thayer, in a letter to the Tribune. He also finds Chapman’s Trinidad article very interesting and disagrees on several points about the birds of Trinidad, although he concedes that Chapman’s experience and training is greater than his own. Roosevelt further discusses his arguments about the coloration, cover, behavior, and habit of birds in the United States, Africa, and Latin America. He thanks Chapman for the interest in his article, thoroughly enjoyed his visit the other day, and will take his notes on the galley sheets into advisement. He returns The Awk and Osborn’s copy of Nature. In the addendum, Roosevelt answers Thayer’s criticism in the Popular Science magazine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-29