| Contributor |
Mifflin, Benjamin F., printer. |
| Title |
The little giant - in the character of the gladiator. [graphic]. |
| Publisher |
[Philadelphia] : [Benjamin F. Mifflin, printer] For Sale at 217 Walnut St. Phila |
| Publisher |
PA. Philadelphia. 1858 |
| Date |
[1858] |
| Physical Description |
1 print : lithograph ; sheet 50 x 36 cm (19.5 x 13.75 in.) |
| Description |
Cartoon portraying Stephen Douglas as a gladiator to symbolize his split with the Buchanan Administration on the admission
of Kansas to the Union as an enslaving state. Depicts Douglas, attired in a tunic, armor, and sandals, defiantly holding his
shield of "Popular Sovereignty, The Majority Rule" and sword labeled "Freedom of the Elective Franchise" in the center of
a battle arena. He prepares to use his armament to fight against the admission of Kansas under the pro-slavery Lecompton Constitution,
which was fraudulently ratified because of the barring and abstention of free-state voters. To the left of Douglas, President
Buchanan, attired as a gladiator, fends off Robert J. Walker, the Kansas Territory Governor and an advocate of popular sovereignty.
In the right, a gladiator representing the power of the "Free Press" trounces the gladiator representing the "Washington Union,"
the Administration's organ. On the ground lies the Roman standard with an eagle, which reads “S.P.Q.R. Salaries Paid Quite
Regular.” The arena is filled with white men and women spectators with various facial expressions of cheer, anger, and shock.
|
| Is referenced by |
Weitenkampf, p. 119 |
|
Nevins and Weitenkampf, A Century of political cartoons, p. 82 |
| Notes |
Title from item. |
|
Publication date supplied by Weitenkampf. |
|
Manuscript note written on recto: Douglas-Lecompton question. |
|
Purchase 1958. |
|
Description revised 2021. |
|
Access points revised 2021. |
|
Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the
Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom
Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014.
|
| Subject |
Buchanan, James, 1791-1868 -- Caricatures and cartoons. |
|
Douglas, Stephen Arnold, 1813-1861 -- Caricatures and cartoons. |
|
Walker, Robert J. (Robert John), 1801-1869 -- Caricatures and cartoons. |
|
Democratic Party (U.S.) |
|
United States. Kansas-Nebraska Act. |
|
Lecompton constitution. |
|
Daggers & swords. |
|
Fighting -- United States. |
|
Gladiators. |
|
Shields. |
|
Slavery -- United States -- Extension to the territories. |
|
Spectators -- United States. |
| Geographic subject |
Kansas -- Politics and government -- 1854-1861. |
|
United States -- Newspapers. |
| Genre |
Lithographs -- 1850-1860. |
|
Political cartoons -- 1850-1860. |
| Printer |
Mifflin, Benjamin F., printer. |
| Location |
Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| Political Cartoons - 1858-1w [6268.F] |
| Accession number |
6268.F |
