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The Democratic platform
| Content Provider | Library of Congress - Photographs |
|---|---|
| Spatial Coverage | United States |
| Description | Again the 1856 Democrats are characterized as friendly to proslavery interests. Old guard Democrats Martin Van Buren and Thomas Hart Benton are also resurrected for abuse here. Van Buren appears as a fox, lurking in a cave at right. His son John is one of three men supporting a supine James Buchanan. The Democratic presidential nominee lies across the backs of the three crouching figures (left to right) Thomas Hart Benton (identified as "Old Bullion"), Franklin Pierce ("Franklin the last"), and "Prince" John Van Buren. They converse: Pierce to Benton: "Colonel, how is it that you're so down on my Administration and yet support this platform?" Benton: "Sir this Platform is Mr. Buchanan, I support the man. Men, not principles, is my motto." (This is a reversal of the Democratic motto: "Principles, not men.") Martin Van Buren: "Never mind what we did in '48 Johnny a change of policy now & then, benefits the political System as you will see in the case of the great "Federal" Democrat you are now supporting; and then our party are so forgiving for the Sake of the Spoils." The "Federal Democrat" referred to is Buchanan, who was viewed as an opportunist because of his 1828 conversion from Federalist to Democrat. Van Buren lost the 1848 presidential election to Republican Zachary Taylor because the Democratic party was evenly split between Hunkers and Barnburners. John Van Buren: "Certainly Dad. that's the fruit of the Great Democratic principle 'Every man for himself & plunder for us all.'" Buchanan declares: "I am no longer James Buchanan but the Platform of my party." Seated on his stomach is a slave owner armed with a whip, several knives, and a pistol. A black youth (his slave) sits on Buchanan's legs. Addressing the slave owner from the left is Brother Jonathan or Uncle Sam, dressed in waistcoat, striped trousers, and tall hat. He warns, "Mister Fire Eater I wouldn't rely too much on the supporters of that Platform; they are liable to give way at any moment." The southerner's response: "I dont care anything about the Supporters of the platform as long as the platform supports me and my Nigger." Source: Reilly. |
| File Format | JPG / JPEG |
| Language | English |
| Part of Series | Popular Graphic Arts Cartoon Prints, American |
| Requires | HTML5 supported browser |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Domain (in LCSH) | Buchanan, James,--1791-1868. |
| Subject Domain (in LCSH) | African Americans--Civil rights--United States--1850-1860. |
| Subject Domain (in LCSH) | Presidential elections--United States--1850-1860. |
| Subject Domain (in LCSH) | Political platforms--United States--1850-1860. |
| Subject Domain (in LCSH) | Benton, Thomas Hart,--1782-1858. |
| Subject Domain (in LCSH) | Democratic Party (U.S.)--1850-1860. |
| Subject Domain (in LCSH) | Legislators--United States--1850-1860. |
| Subject Domain (in LCSH) | Van Buren, John,--1810-1866. |
| Subject Domain (in LCSH) | Slavery--United States--1850-1860. |
| Subject Domain (in LCSH) | Abolition movement--United States--1850-1860. |
| Subject Domain (in LCSH) | Pierce, Franklin,--1804-1869. |
| Subject Domain (in LCSH) | Van Buren, Martin,--1782-1862. |
| Subject Domain (in LCSH) | Brother Jonathan (Nickname) |
| Content Type | Image |
| Resource Type | Photograph |
