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"Stop thief!" / Gillam. - Political cartoon, public domain image

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"Stop thief!" / Gillam. - Political cartoon, public domain image

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Summary

Illustration, reminiscent of Thomas Nast's cartoon of the same title published in Harper's Weekly, October 7, 1871, hence "That trick is very stale", shows a group of monopolists and Blaine supporters scattering on the street in response to the cry "Stop thief!"; Joseph Keifer carries a sign that states "Beware of Cleveland the Monopolist" and Cyrus Field waves a sheet that states "Down with Cleveland the Monopolist". Among the pursuers and those being pursued are William W. Phelps, Benjamin F. Butler carrying a bag of "Monopolist Fees", Robert Ingersoll, Keifer, George M. Robeson, Whitelaw Reid throwing "Dust" in the eyes of workingmen, Alonzo Cornell, Field, James G. Blaine carrying a bag of "$ from Monopolists" and "R.R. Stocks", Russell Sage, John Roach, and Jay Gould, as well as a dog with the face of John Kelly(?), and with a teapot labeled "Alliance with Monopolists" tied to its tail; all are determined to look like pursuers, instead of the object of the pursuit. Carl Schurz, dressed as a policeman, is standing on the sidewalk at far right. Two laborers are standing on the left, next to a sign that announces "Friend of the Workingman Meeting at Monopoly Hall To Night - J. Gould, C. Field, R. Sage, Robeson".

Caption: Level-Headed Workingman "Too thin! That trick is very stale. I guess we know a monopolist when we see him!"
Illus. from Puck, v. 15, no. 387, (1884 August 6), centerfold.
Copyright 1884 by Keppler & Schwarzmann.

Alois Senefelder, the inventor of lithography, introduced the subject of colored lithography in 1818. Printers in other countries, such as France and England, were also started producing color prints. The first American chromolithograph—a portrait of Reverend F. W. P. Greenwood—was created by William Sharp in 1840. Chromolithographs became so popular in American culture that the era has been labeled as "chromo civilization". During the Victorian times, chromolithographs populated children's and fine arts publications, as well as advertising art, in trade cards, labels, and posters. They were also used for advertisements, popular prints, and medical or scientific books.

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Date

01/01/1884
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Contributors

Gillam, Bernhard, 1856-1896, artist
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Source

Library of Congress
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No known restrictions on publication.

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