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Complete HarpWeek Explanation:
This cover cartoon for Strong’s Campaign Pictorial uses a common horserace analogy for the presidential election. Constitutional Unionist John Bell is far back of the pack. Southern Democrat John Breckinridge is dead weight on a drag pulled by Northern Democrat Stephen Douglas, whose jockey may be Dean Richmond, political boss of the Albany, New York, political machine. Out in front is the probable winner, Republican Abraham Lincoln, ridden by jockey Horace Greeley, editor of the New York Tribune. The rail which Greeley carries is a pun on Lincoln’s image as a rail-splitter and alludes to the Lincoln horse being closest to the inside rail. The “post” is actually the starting gate in horseracing, but is used here to signify the finish line because it is a synonym for “rail.” |
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