This Puck cartoon by Joseph Keppler uses the biblical analogy of Belshazzar's
feast to convey the terror that the revolt of the Republican Independents (Mugwumps)
has supposedly caused the campaign of Republican presidential nominee James
Blaine. At a sumptuous dinner for the rich and royal, a hand appeared out of
nowhere, writing strange words on the wall. The prophet Daniel was called in to
interpret the words, which were a promise of divine judgment on King Belshazzar.
The ruler died that evening.
