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This index represents a portion of the political caricatures and
cartoons which were published during a pivotal period in Hawai'i's
history. Most of the prints, appearing prior to the overthrow and
continuing through the annexation of Hawai'i, were extracted from the
American magazines, Puck and Judge.
These magazines flourished in the late 1800's and early 1900's
as humor magazines providing comment on the events of the
time, and as agents of political influence actively supporting or
opposing political candidates, and domestic and international policy.
By smearing his opponent, Puck helped to elect Grover
Cleveland. Judge, in partnership with the GOP, secured the elections
of Benjamin Harrison and William McKinley. This genre for political
reform was at its height, having gained impetus by Thomas Nast's
effectively convicting the Tweed Ring with his graphic
invectives. Richard E. Marschall writes in A History of Puck, Judge and Life (The World Encyclopedia of Cartoons, Horn, Maurice, ed., Chelsea House Publishers, New York, 1980), "To today's scholar, they [the magazines] are an excellent reflection of American civilization of the day...Humor cuts through pretense, and by exposing prejudices, fads, morals and life-styles, the cartoonist paints a unique and unrivaled portrait of his contemporaries." These cartoons are presented as a matter of historical record. Due to time constraints research was done only at the Hawai'i State Archives, the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum Archives and the Hawaiian Historical Society Library. |
Corner note: We are glad to hear evidences that the monumental fraud called the Kingdom of the Sandwich Islands, which has been maintained for the past twelve years at the expense of the people of the U.S., is ready fall to pieces. We presume that England will then step in and assume a protectorate.
Description: Grover Cleveland is depicted as Lorelei sitting dejectedly on a rock in foreground, the Sandwich Isles lie in the distance, a U.S. vessel is shipwrecked and a British ship is gathering flotsam.
Description: King Kalakaua sits on a throne being toppled by the "revolution". The schooner "Lurline" is in the background. A barefoot woman rushing back from the Jubilee represents Kapi'olani.
Description: Shows King Kalakaua drunk, his crown askew. John Bull is holding him up by an arm and emptying a bottle onto the ground. Caricatured Kapi'olani is holding his other arm. Cleveland is on his knees before them pleading for something
Caption: Our good-natured country may allow this administration to give our market to England, sell our embassies to Anglomaniac dudes, and cause the reduction of wages to the European standard. But...
Description: Soldiers are holding up on points of bayonets a round platform upon which sits a caricature of Lili'uokalani, feathers in her hair, crown askew, barefoot, holding a paper reading "scandalous government", and "gross immorality".
Description: Several vignettes with captions.
Caption: Uncle Sam: "Grover this game has been too deep for you. Every move you've made has been a blunder, and now you've lost your Black Queen and the game.
Description: Uncle Sam and Cleveland are playing chess with pieces representing the U.S. senators and Queen Lili'uokalani.
Description: Hoar is strapped into a high chair in the senatorial nursery and a page seems to be dangling a "Queen Lil" doll in front of him.
Description: A woman (Hawai'i) and Uncle Sam are getting married, kneeling before the minister (McKinley) who is reading from a book entitled "Annexation Policy". The bride seems ready to bolt. Behind the couple stands Morgan (jingo) with a shotgun.
Caption: Uncle Sam - "I ain't in a hurry-it'll drop into my basket when it gets ripe."
Description: Uncle Sam is standing under a fruit tree, fruits hanging from tree are labeled "Hawaii, Canada, Cuba, Florida, Texas, California, and Louisiana".
Description: Secretary Sherman, dressed as an old woman, is gathering flowers from a pot labeled "Diplomatic Questions". The flowers are labeled "Bering Sea", "Cuba", "Hawaii". He is plucking petals from the Hawai'i flower.
Caption: Uncle Sam (to his new class on civilization) - "Now, children, you've got to learn these lessons whether you want to or not! But just take a look at the class ahead of you, and remember that in a little while, you will be as glad to be here as they are!"
Description: In the back of the classroom students representing California, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and Alaska are quietly reading. In the front row are boys representing the Philippines, Porto (sic) Rico, Cuba, and Hawai'i looking bored and out of place.
Caption: Uncle Sam: "Gosh, I wish they wouldn't come quite so many in a bunch; but if I've got to take them, I guess I can do as well by them as I've done by the others."
Description: Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty are standing by a wall labeled "U.S. Foundling Asylum". Outstretched arms labeled "Manifest Destiny" are handing them a basket of crying children representing Porto (sic) Rico, Hawaii, Cuba, Philippines. Children dancing in the yard are labeled California, Texas and Mexico.
Description: Uncle Sam and Miss Columbia are at the gate of the Capitol dancing with little people representing Cuba, Porto (sic) Rico, Labor, Capital, Philippines and Hawai'i.
Description: U.S. and Hawaii are riding in a carriage named "Free Trade", Porto (sic) Rico is standing forlornly by the roadside.
Caption: Bringing the truant boy to the little red, white and blue schoolhouse.
Description: Miss Columbia, teacher at the Liberty School, is ringing a bell. Uncle Sam, switch in hand, is dragging by the ear a Filipino boy in loincloth and amulet. Boys from Hawai'i, Cuba, and Porto Rico(sic) are standing around watching.
Caption: Uncle Sam- "See if you can read that
sign through this hyar telescope o' mine."
Description: Uncle Sam is holding the small end of a telescope on John Bull's eye. John Bull is standing across the water in England and Hawaii is in the middle of the ocean. The telescope is labeled "Monroe Doctrine" and is aimed at a sign reading "No foreign interference."
Additional listings.
Mahalo nui loa to the staff at the
Hawai'i State Archives, the
Bernice
Pauahi Bishop Museum Archives and the
Hawaiian Historical Society Library for
their assistance.
Send comments to webmaster@lama.kcc.hawaii.edu
Copyright 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 Kapi'olani Community College Library. All rights reserved.
Developed by Linda M.L. Soma, MLIS
Prints from Hawai‘i State Archives photographed by Guy Inaba