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This unsigned Thomas Nast cartoon portrays Democratic presidential nominee
Horatio Seymour as Mrs. Partington sweeping back the sea. According to newspaper
reports, in 1824 an English woman named Mrs. Partington tried to sweep back (or
mop up) a torrent of sea-water that a gale was driving into her house. She did
not give up until the deepening water forced her to seek shelter on the second
story. In 1831 opponents of the Reform Bill in the British House of Lords were
compared to Mrs. Partington vainly attempting to sweep back the sea. Variants of
the phrase "Dame Partington and her mop" became a metaphor used
against those who try to fight progress. Here, the tidal waves making the old
woman's (i.e., the candidate's) efforts futile are the results of the fall state
elections. Republicans won eight of nine state elections in September and
October 1868, including the major states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. |
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Warning
1860
