ARTIST: Thomas Nast
PUBLISHER: Published by Harper's Weekly. April 20, 1872.
MEDIUM: Wood engraving,
DATE: 1872
EDITION SIZE: Image size 13 1/8 x 9" (33.3 x 22.9 cm).
DESCRIPTION: This political cartoon borrows reference from story "The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe," which was published in 1719. In the story Crusoe was the soul survivor of a shipwreck, which left him stranded on an uninhabited island. Only on occasion did cannibals show up to hunt for those imprisoned there. This was how he met Friday. The young man had escaped the cannibals and Crusoe took him in, and taught him English and Christianity. The two eventually escaped the island by conspiring with a ship captain. His crew had fallen into mutiny and meant to leave him there. With Crusoe's help, the captain and those still loyal to him took back their ship and left the mutineers behind. <br><br> In this cartoon Charles Sumner is depicted as Robinson Crusoe and the black man praying on top of the hill is Friday. Sumner had been loyal to the Republican party until Ulysses S. Grant opted to run for a second presidential term. He then joined the Liberal Republican party, which had been started by Carl Schurz (left of Sumner). Those in favor of the party thought Grant and his association were corrupt and felt he should be ousted. To do so they joined forces with the only group who could offer competition - the Democrats. It was a terrible decision. The Democratic party was anti-black rights. Even in this cartoon Nast reminds the public of their evils. In the background, on the left, is the ship "Democrat" flying the flags of the "KKK," "Tammany Ring" and "Truce." The Tammany Ring flag refers to Tammany Hall, the Democratic political machine in New York City. It had been run by Boss Tweed for many years and its corruption was rather infamous. The flag "Truce" refers to the partnership between the Democrats and the Liberal Republicans. <br><br> Horace Greeley, shown standing in the rowboat with his hat held high, was the Liberal Republican favorite. He was an odd fellow with little experience in politics. Yet somehow he would win over the Democrats and run against President Grant in the fall. His run was doomed for failure. <br><br> A paper in Greeley's pocket reads "What I know about Emigration." This plays off of two elements - the Crusoe story and a book Greeley published in 1871 entitled "What I know about Farming." Unfortunately the book had been based on childhood memories rather than actual practice, and Nast used this against him in many political cartoons to show the public just how little the candidate knew. In his other pocket is the newspaper "Tribune," which Greeley was the editor of. Beside him, on the right, is Jefferson Davis. He holds a paper reading "Bailed by H.C." This was yet another public reminder that Greeley had helped post bail for the traitorous Confederate President just a few years prior. <br><br> The depiction of "Friday" tells of Sumner's 'betrayal.' The Republican party was pro-black rights. They were constantly at the South to treat blacks fairly, but the more they pushed, the more white supremacists pushed back. Here, the black man is likely praying that he won't be left behind on an island full of cannibals (the KKK, who hide in the bushes to his left). Behind him is the "Lincoln School," the American flag flies above it. It had been against the law for slaves to be educated, so the prospect of attending school was new to them and was held dearly. To his right is a farmers hoe and a hat with papers reading "Emancipation by A. Lincoln" and "Protected by U.S. Grant," rights that were now in jeopardy.
ADDITIONAL INFO:
CONDITION: Good condition, save for a minor bit of paper loss in the upper left margin.
REFERENCE:
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