Illustration: "NY Tribune political cartoon by Thomas Nast, titled "'Barnum's New 'What Is It'"
1872 (Date manufactured/created)
Paper Documentary Artifact
5.75 in H
X
5.25 in W
Political cartoon by Thomas Nast, clipped from Harper's Weekly, August 17, 1872. The cartoon is titled "Barnum's New 'What Is it?'" a reference to the promotional name Barnum used for his display of William Henry Johnson as a half man-half animal "missing link." The cartoon likens Barnum's humbugs to the conflicting views of New York Tribune editor, Horace Greeley, a long-time friend of Barnum's who was running as a Liberal Republican/Democratic candidate in the Presidential race. The cartoon was an attempt to convey the hypocrisy of Greeley as a candidate, and of Greeley’s newspaper. In the image, P.t. Barnum is shown next to a man wearing a long coat and top hat, whose back is toward the viewer. The man, whose face cannot be seen, is meant to be Horace Greeley. Barnum is holding out a sleeve to the viewer, pointing to the list of conflicting statements and phrases written on the back of Greeley's coat. The main statement reads, "I am a Republican but vote the Democratic ticket." Below that another statement reads: "Let's have the KKK Law Stronger and Stronger." An opposing statement is beneath: "Down with the KKK Law." Further contradictions include: "I never wrote anything in the N. Y. Tribune," "Down with rum" and "Hurrah for rum," and "My name is Greeley Horace." The sign "Brown Gratz" refers to another candidate, B. Gratz Brown, who also ran as a Liberal Republican/Democrat, thus the reason Nast reversed his name. In front of Greeley, partly obscured, is a toy horse on wheels with wooly fur beside a sign that reads, "This is not the Woolly Horse," a reference to another of Barnum's famous humbugs involving famous Army explorer Colonel John C. Fremont. This is one of a number of satirical cartoons that appeared in the press in 1871 and 1872, revealing candidate Greeley's reputation for asserting to be something he was not, and in this case comparing him to a Barnum humbug or hoax. The paragraph below the illustration is a statement by Barnum testifying to Greeley's fine character. Of note, Greeley died on November 29, 1872, after the popular election had taken place but before the electoral college had cast their votes. Incumbent President Ulysses S. Grant was re-elected in the race.
T 2016.018.001