POLITICAL CARICATURES
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POLITICAL CARICATURES
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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 contraints research was done only at the Hawai'i State Archives, the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum Archives and the Hawaiian Historical Society Library. A more thorough index will require further searching. Click on hypertext links to view some of the cartoons.
Caption: Washington, December 21. - There has been a great deal of conjecture as to the object of King Kalakaua's visit to Washington; but I am enabled to give you the true solution of the problem. For some time there has been correspondence and negotiations going on between an intimate friend of the President and King Kalakaua. Ulysses, finding his chances for becoming a Caesar in the United States rapidly fading away, determined that he would be Caesar or nobody. He has traded his farm and dogs in Missouri with the King for the Sandwich Islands, of which he expects to take possession March 5th, 1877. As an extra inducement King Kalakaua has been ceded all Grant's right, title and interest in the Washington Ring, the San Domingo Job and Seneca Stone Company...
Kalakaua - "Messrs. Ministers, when you address royalty, go down on your knees, and say 'Your Majesty,' which, as you have long been used to that, will not be a difficult task. After your genuflections you will present him with his morning lunch."
King Ulysses - "This is not quite the height of my ambition, but I can have my own way and smoke in peace. Well, Kalakaua, I'll sign the contract anyway. I thought I could rule the American people, but they want me to serve them. Republics are ungrateful."
Description: Grant is sitting on a throne with a crown on his head and ministers are kneeling before him. Kalakaua is sitting on a lower level.
Description: King Kalakaua and Spreckels, walking arm in arm at the corner of Bush and Kearney [San Francisco], are accosted by a rag person with a big barreled gun labeled "blackmailing". In Spreckels' pocket is a paper with the word "Libel".
Description: King Kalakaua is in the process of auctioning off Islands to various heads of states.
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.
Caption: The Annexation hustlers in Hawai'i will start a genuine American real estate boom, and reap all the profits there are in it.
Description:"President Dole" is auctioning off lots. Much activity is shown, "natives" are looking through a liquor bottle on a tripod supposedly surveying a lot, a parade advertising excursions to see lots is in progress, etc.
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: San Francisco, January 29 - Facts have leaked out which show clearly that the intrigues which have resulted in the overthrow of the Hawaiian government had been going on for several months, and that Claus Spreckels was a chief mover..."Spreckels is the heaviest stockholder in the Hawaiian Commercial Company which controls practically all the sugar produced in the Islands...The moment annexation goes into effect Hawaii becomes a vital part of this country, and every pound of sugar produced in the Islands receives 2 cents bounty. This amounts to a fat sum of forth dollars per ton and represent a good profit to the planters...Take it all around, annexation will put into Spreckel's own pockets not less than $10,000 in cash" - New York Sun.
Description: Shows Claus Spreckels standing behind a board with two holes through which his hands protrude. He is grabbing the necks of two men sitting in front of the board, who are labeled "Hawaiian Commission" and "U.S. State Department". Spreckels is wearing a scarf on which is written "Syndicate of Speculators and Gamblers."
Caption: And the band played Liliuoklani.
Description: Cleveland is depicted as a drum major leading a group of sailors carrying Lili'uokalani on an open palanquin. She is holding a fan reading "Liliuokalani by the grace of Grover Cleveland Queen of the Hawaiian..."
Caption: Grover-"If any man hauls up the American flag, shoot him on the spot."
Description: John Bull is kneeling on England, with long arms reaching across the ocean to a ship named American Commerce with a sign reading "To be hauled down," and to the Behring(sic) Sea Fisheries with an American flag and sign reading "To be hauled down next". In the foreground Blount is taking down the American flag while Cleveland stands by clutching a paper which reads "Surrender of Hawaii."
Caption-Uncle Sam: "If you'd like to swap Presidents, my boy, I wouldn't mind giving up a little to boot."
Description: Uncle Sam is standing behind a wall handing a picture of Cleveland to a caricatured little African-looking person outside the wall who is holding a picture of Dole.
Description: Grover is walking away from a caricatured African woman sitting on a trunk labeled "Lily K". She is sitting outside a closed gate on which a sign reading "No Admittance" is posted. A note sticking out of Grover's pocket reads "President Dole's reply".
Caption: Hawaiian topsy (to Miss Columbia) - "I 'spect you dunno what to do wif me, Miss Phelia. Golly! I'se causin' a heap o' trouble."
Description: A caricatured barefoot African girl wearing a bonnet a and belt labeled "Hawaii" is addressing Miss Columbia. A bearded man is sitting at a small round table; through the open door can be seen part of an island with palm trees.
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.
'You listened to my DOLE-ful tale;
You tried your best - twas no avail.
It's through no fault of yours or mine
That I can't be your valentine.'"
Cartoon, color lithograph. New York, Judge, v26, n644,
February 17, 1894, . Cartoon, color lithograph. Bernice P. Bishop
Museum Archives. Honolulu, Hawai'i. Box: Ga-Gz, Acc. no. 1991.0386.0002.
Caption: (The above PENNY VALENTINE was included in the last mail from Hawaii, but through some mistake was not transmitted to the Senate.)
Description: Show a caricature of a native woman (Lili'uokalani) dressed in high heels and a small crown; behind her is an ax and chopping block labeled "For Dole".
Caption: The New Year - "Great Grover! That worthless old year has left some mighty tough jobs on my hands."
Description: Shows Old Man Time walking away with a bag of government business done during the year.The New Year's baby is waving good-by, issues still to be dealt with include the Hawaiian difficulty.
Caption: Grover: "Say, he did some great things in his time. But look what I've done! He isn't in it with me."
Description: Grover is standing on precariously stacked blocks labeled "Starvation", "un-American", "Tariff Reform Pizzle", Civil Service Sham", "Hawaii Failure", "Income Tax", talking to a statue of Washington.
Caption: Oh, woe! woe! woe! alack and well-a-day!
In profoundest blues from the latest news
We weep the hours away.
Description: Legislators (Dana, Pulitzer, Reed, Reid, Lodge, Allison, Hoar, Bontelle) are weeping and sitting outside a window. A sign reads "The United Order of Jingoes". Cleveland is sitting inside reading a paper with headline "Cleveland's Hawaiian Policy."
Caption: We've been watching matters sadly and noted, too, with tears.
That of wars we've wanted badly there isn't one appears;
Ah! Not one, though wished for madly for over thirty years,
Despite the din and clamor of the Jingos.
When this cruel peace is over and the Jingos have their day,
We shall all be then in clover, for the guns will blaze away;
When there'll be no cautious Grover, and a war without delay
Will make life worth the living for the Jingos.
Description: Band of legislators - Hoar with a punctured drum reading "Hawaiian Bluster", Morgan with a mangled bugle reading "Nicaragua Blast" and Lodge with a rifle with broken barrel reading "Behring (sic) Sea Thunder".
Caption: Hawaii and Cuba - "Say, Uncle Sam, don't you think you had better take us along too"?
Description: Uncle Sam is walking with a woman on each arm, one labeled "prosperity", the other "protection", behind them a woman (Hawai'i) and man (Cuba) appear to want to join them.
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.
Description: Uncle Sam is sitting on a chair with a baby on each thigh. One baby has a bottle labeled "Liberty, freedom, self government", tag reads "Little Atlantic Cuba". The other baby is nursing on a pacifier labeled "Protection, strength." Tag reads "Little Pacific Hawaii".
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: Judge to Uncle Sam - "Was the Republican national platform made to run on, or to stand on?"
Description: Outside Congress' gate Dole is standing in a long coat and top hat holding "Deed, gift to Uncle Sam of the Hawaiian Islands." Hawai'i is represented by a young plump Indian-looking girl clinging to Dole's hand. Cuba is represented by a young boy clutching a bar of the fence. Inside the fence Uncle Sam is holding a book entitled "Monroe Doctrine". The judge is showing him McKinley's platform that "the Hawaiian Islands should be controlled by the U.S... and that the U.S. should actively use its influence... and give independence to the island (Cuba)."
Description: Depicts the 1898 "Happy New Year" Baby opening the door to a room repesenting the New Year. Uncle Sam is peering in over him into the room which is filled with cobwebs and other debris. They are labeled "Financial Tangle", "Cuba", and "Hawaii". A bucket labeled Dingley Revenue Plan stands on the floor.
Description: Shows McKinley at the base of a pillar being badgered by a throng of people.
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: Puck - "Gentlemen, to your health! I am glad to see from your beaming faces that you share the high aspirations of our friend, the Czar, for universal peace. Here's to you all!"
Description: Around the Thanksgiving table sits Uncle Sam with imposing figures, some of whom are glowering at each other, representing England, France, Germany, Italy and Mexico, and diminutive figures representing Porto (sic) Rico and Hawai'i. A live turkey is lying on a plate in the center of the table.
Caption: There is an old "Yank" who lives in a shoe,
Covered all over with red, white and blue,
His family is large and still growing bigger,
The result of good work in snapping the trigger.
Description: Uncle Sam is in a large shoe looking out over little persons representing Mexico, Texas, Cuba, Hawaii, Philippines, Alaska, et al.
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 is trying to teach a class while boys representing Cuba are tussling and one is standing on a stool in a dunce cap. Hawaii and Porto (sic) Rico are represented by young girls obediently reading.
Caption: Old Party - "Ain't you takin' too many in, Sam?"
Uncle Sam - "No, Gran'pa, I reckon this team will be strong
enough for them all."
Description: From a horse-drawn street car, Uncle Sam is reaching out to bring aboard a little girl labeled "Cuba". Porto (sic) Rico, Ladrones and Philippines (little girls with sash labels) are eager to climb aboard. The car is already crowded with blond children holding American flags and a little black girl with a hat labeled "Hawaii". Old Party is a man with a hat reading "Monroe Doctrine".
Description: Uncle Sam and a woman draped in the stars and stripes [Miss Columbia, perhaps] are standing in front of a Christmas tree handing out a book and plow to children. Children represent Hawai'i, Puerto Rico and Cuba.
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: The ex-presidents - " Shocking! Shocking! Your reckless policy will ruin the country."
Description: The President is sitting on a throne in front of two paintings, one showing Cleveland's Venezuelan message- grabbing a bull's tail, the other showing a swashbuckling Harrison a wielding sword with a child (Chile) kneeling before him, and Hawai'i running away.
Caption: Uncle Sam: "Say John, why are you shooting
off fireworks?"
John Bull: "Because I've a crown, don't you know. But, Sammy,
why are you celebrating?"
Uncle Sam: "Because I'm rid of the crown."
Description:On one side of a stream John Bull is with persons representing Canada, So. Africa, India and Australia doing fireworks. On the other side Uncle Sam is setting off fireworks with persons representing Danish West Indies, Alaska, Cuba, Philippines and Hawai'i.
Caption: Carlisle - "But yesterday the word of Caesar might have stood against the world, now lies he there, and none so poor to do him reverence."Shakespeare.
Description: Shows a melting snowman, representing Cleveland, with only his head remaining, around which are his debacles: hard times, business distress, lower wages, Hornblower rejected, Wilson bill, income tax, Hawaii burlesque. Carlisle is standing aside, other people are waiting to throw snowballs.
Caption: Moses Cleveland (to Uncle Sam)"Dot fits you like der paper on der vall. Now you vas happy!"
Description: Uncle Sam is in "Cleveland and Co. Tailors" shop being fitted with a "Hard Times Coat", patches read "Bank Failure, Reduction, Silver, Business Stagnation". Shoes read "European wages, pauper." Hat being held out to him has plumed feather labeled "Hawaii, white feather." Clothes which Uncle Sam doffed are draped over a chair and labeled "Gold, Prosperity, Patriotism," boots read "Good Wages."
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."
Caption: Uncle Sam"It's all right! There's no fighting! The noise you hear is just my family celebrating!"
Description: Children are shooting off a cannon, guns, firecrackers. Children represent the South, Porto Rico (sic), North, Alaska, New York, Texas, and Massachusetts. Hawaii and the Philippines are climbing over the wall. Uncle Sam is talking to the angel of peace; a peace dove with an olive branch is flying above her.
Description: A boy and a girl representing Hawai'i but dressed like native American Indians are standing at the gate meekly addressing a tall woman. In the background is a rowdy group of ethnically diverse children in the yard of Miss Columbia's schoolhouse.
Caption: Uncle Sam - "Isn't it time the people
were made aware of the contents of that box?"
Grover - "The people! I desire you to understand, sir,
that I am the people."
Description: A shrunken-sized Grover is sitting on a box with Uncle Sam towering over him.
Caption: "My dear master, " quoth Sancho Panza (Gresham), "be thankful for coming off no worse. Let us jog home fair and softly, without thinking no more of sauntering up and down, nobody knows whither, in quest of adventures and bloody noses." "Thou art much of a philosopher, Sancho," answered Don Quixote (Cleveland), "and has spoken discreetly. Every man is the maker of his own fortune. I have been of mine, but not with all the necessary prudence, and my presumption has been punished accordingly. In short, I adventured, I was overthrown, and thereby lost my honor-Don Quixote."
Description: The Capitol is in the background with the blades of a windmill reading "Hawaii Affair", Tariff Discussion", "Income Tax Blunder", etc. In the foreground, Cleveland (Don Quixote) is battered, with a patch over one eye riding on a donkey being led by Gresham on foot. A white horse is following behind with a flag reading "Pigheadedness" and a neck banner reading "Administration".
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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
Compiled by Linda M.L. Soma
Prints from Hawai'i State Archives photographed by Guy Inaba