George Hunt - Little Mac's double feat of equitation

During the 1864 presidential campaign a popular analogy was drawn between Democratic presidential candidate George B. McClellan and an acrobat uneasily straddling two horses at once. The artist here portrays the McClellan candidacy as trying to combine two seemingly irreconcilable causes, peace and war. In a circus ring McClellan stretches between horses marked "Letter of Acceptance" and "Chicago Platform." In Chicago on August 29, 1864, McClellan was nominated the Democratic candidate on a peace platform. In his letter of acceptance, however, the candidate expressed his support for the war. At left his running mate George H. Pendleton, wearing a dunce cap "PEACE!," eggs him on, saying, "I "say" Mac! Can't you hold on to "both" 'till the 8th of Nov.? [i.e., election day]" In the background a huge audience watches the spectacle. Among the instruments in the band is a drum inscribed "N.Y. World," one of McClellan's most vocal supporters.

Entered . . . 1864 . . . by N. Bangs Williams, Providence.

Title appears as it is written on the item.

Murrell, p. 225.

Weitenkampf, p. 143.

Published in: American political prints, 1766-1876 / Bernard F. Reilly. Boston : G.K. Hall, 1991, entry 1864-25.

mcclellan george pendleton george h george hunt democratic national convention chicago ill world new york ny lithographs political cartoons little mac little mac feat equitation konstanz germany george brinton brinton vintage images 1864 illinois chicago prints 19th century cartoon prints american rare book and special collections division n bangs nathan bangs williams democratic party presidential elections democratic party presidential candidate democratic party us politics and government elections political campaigns library of congress

01/01/1864

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