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 The Democratic "Chicago" Platform

 


 "The Chicago Platform and Candidate"
  Cartoonist:  Unknown
  Source:  Library of Congress
  Date:  c1864

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

Click to see a large version of this cartoon

Complete HarpWeek Explanation:
McClellan was branded a hypocrite by many critics who saw his public stance on the war issues as ambiguous and deceptive. Nominated because of his military record, he nevertheless ran on a peace platform, written by Copperhead leader Clement Vallandingham, but then asserted his support for the war in his letter accepting the nomination.

From one face McClellan says, "If you don’t like the Platform, I refer you to my letter of acceptance." The hand on this side hold the "Letter of Acceptance," which reads, "War! … preservation Union … could not Look my gallant Comrades in the face." Facing right, he contradicts himself, "You see my friend I accept the nomination and of course stand on the platform."

The devil addresses Confederate president Jefferson Davis, "Well Jeff it’s no use trying to hold up this ricketty old platform, I guess I’ll leave you to your fate!" Davis replies, "I’m in a pretty fix! Weldon road gone!! Atlanta taken!!! Mobile Fort surrendered!!!! Early licked!!!! And now when my last hope who led me into the crape threaten to leave me!!!!"

Vallandigham says to Fernando Wood, "Confound that letter! I’ve a good mind to bolt, and let the whole concern go smash!" Wood reassures him, "… don’t you see it’s only his little game to ring in the war men; if he is elected he is bound to carry out our policy and nothing else!: At the far-left a Union soldier repudiates McClellan, "It’s no use General! you can’t stand on that platform and come that blarney over me, I smed brimstone!" In contrast, at right an ape-like Irishman holding a club and identified as a "Peace Democrat" says, "All right General! if yere in favor of resistin the draft, killing the niggers, and pace wid the Southerners I’ll knock any man on the head that’ll vote aginye."

Source: American Political Prints, 1766 - 1876: A Catalog of the Collections in the Library of Congress, 1991, by Bernard F. Reilly, Jr.
 

 

 

 
 

 

     
 

 

 
     
 

 

 
     
 

 

 

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