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 The National Party Conventions

 


 “There are Two of Them Now!”
  Cartoonist:  Grant Hamilton
  Source:  Judge
  Date:   July 9, 1892, p. 17

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

Click to see a large version of this cartoon

Complete HarpWeek Explanation:
Although Judge endorsed Republican Benjamin Harrison for reelection in 1892, this cartoon morally equates the political bosses of the two parties in New York State, Thomas C. Platt (left) for the Republicans and Senator David B. Hill (right) for the Democrats. In the background, both parties celebrate the selection of their respective presidential nominees—Harrison and Democrat Grover Cleveland—while Platt and Hill appear menacingly in the foreground as dangerous, sword-wielding bandits ready to steal the election from their national parties’ chosen leaders.

Displeased by the lack of patronage from the Harrison administration, Platt had joined a small but prominent group of Republicans who unsuccessfully promoted Secretary of State Blaine to replace the president on the party’s 1892 ticket. Through the intervention of Whitelaw Reid, the 1892 Republican vice-presidential nominee, President Harrison meet with Platt at the White House on September 5, after which the New York boss agreed to campaign for the president’s reelection.

Longtime rivals Cleveland and Hill had faced off against each other for the 1892 Democratic presidential nomination, which the former president won handily. Only late in the campaign did Hill briefly hit the hustings for the national party, without mentioning Cleveland’s name.

 

 

 

 
 

 

     
 

 

 
     
 

 

 
     
 

 

 

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