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 Stephen Douglas and the Democrats

 


 “Our Portrait Gallery—No. 10: Douglas in search of his Mother…” and “Rail Lyrics—No. 10”
  Cartoonist:  Unknown
  Source:  The Rail Splitter (Chicago)
  Date:   August 25, 1860, p. 1

Click to see a large version of this cartoon...

Click to see a large version of this cartoon

Complete HarpWeek Explanation:
This cartoon and poem in The Chicago Rail Splitter (Chicago) poke fun at Northern Democratic presidential nominee Stephen Douglas for using a visit to his mother as a pretext for a campaign tour of the Northeast. There was a longstanding tradition against presidential candidates stumping for office. Douglas’s 1860 electioneering in the Northeast and later in the South were the first issues-oriented speaking tours by a presidential nominee.

Douglas was known as a hard drinker, and the “great principle” in his pocket is a bottle of alcohol.

 

 

 

 
 

 

     
 

 

 
     
 

 

 
     
 

 

 

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