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The Democratic National Convention |
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“The Awakening of Rip Van Stevenson” |
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Cartoonist: William Allen Rogers |
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Source: Harper's Weekly |
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Date:
July 21, 1900, p. 686
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Click to see a large version of this cartoon |
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Complete HarpWeek Explanation:
This cartoon spoofs Adlai Stevenson as a modern-day Rip Van Winkle. Stevenson, the vice president of the United States during President Grover Cleveland’s second term (1893-1897), was nominated again in 1900 as the Democratic vice presidential nominee. The literary allusion emphasizes Stevenson’s age (nearly 65 years old) and exaggerates his years absent from elective office (three as opposed to Rip Van Winkle’s slumber of 20).
The Democratic national ticket of William Jennings Bryan and Stephenson was selected in early July 1900. A few months before, the Populist Party had nominated Bryan for president and Charles Towne, a Minnesota Silver Republican, for vice president. While Bryan preferred his friend, Towne, Stevenson was the popular choice of Democratic delegates (defeating David B. Hill of New York), so the Minnesota Republican dropped out of the race. In the autumn, Stevenson went on a campaign speaking tour, emphasizing the antitrust and anti-imperialism positions of Bryan and the Democratic platform. |
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