Life, 1884-09-25 · page 4 of 16
Life — September 25, 1884 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Political Satire from Life Magazine, Page 172 This page contains satirical commentary on James G. Blaine's 1884 presidential campaign. The left column ("Boomlets") mocks Blaine supporters through brief anecdotes—including an incident where a man laughing at anti-Blaine political cartoons was knocked down outside a store, and references to "Mulligan letters" (a scandal involving Blaine's financial impropriety). The right column presents humorous letters between Blaine and a man named Fisher, depicting financial embarrassment. Fisher repeatedly borrows small amounts (75 cents, 50 cents, a dollar and a half) from Blaine, then asks for massive loans ($84,000, $95,000). The satire suggests Blaine himself is financially unreliable—undermining his credibility as a candidate through this absurdist humor about debt and borrowing.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
172 BOOMLETS. W E never would have believed it possible, but the 777- éune remarks of Mr. Blaine,“ He has many of the taking qualities of Henry Clay.” : This is indeed an admission ! . . Retribution, HILE standing in front of the store No. 397 Grand street about 10 P. M., yesterday, laughing at some political cartoons, Dennis S. Griffin, age fifty-two years, was seized with an apoplectic fit and fell heavily to the ground. The moral of this lies in the fact that the cartoon severely dealt with the Presidential aspirations of B. F. Butler of Mass. + . * PITE of the World's statement the Democrats failed to land their Fish. * * * BOSTON contemporary publishes a list of men of let- ters who are going for Blaine. The best known man of letters who goes for Blaine in this campaign is mysteriously omitted. “ Mulligan is his name!" . . * HE aggressive campaign promised by the Blaine man- agers is being realized in the Tariff-ic canvass they are trying to force. . . * HE era of Cabinet making has arrived, and our E. C., the Herald, having attended to the wants of Messrs. Cleveland and Blaine, we feel that General Butler should not be left in the cold. We have framed the following as Gen. Butler’s probable advisers : Secretary of State—John Kelly. Secretary of War—O"Donovan Rossa. Secretary of Navy (per Tallapoosa arrangement, papers lost)—W. E. Chandler. Secretary of Interior—Hon. Denis Kearney. Postmaster-General—Ex-Hon. J. Davis. Attorney-General—Charles A. Dana. . . . ND still another Cabinet might consist of Dr. Mary Walker, Secretary of State; Susan B. Anthony, Secre- tary of War; Lydia Pinkham, Secretary Navy ; Whitelaw Reid, Secretary Interior ; C. A. Dana, Postmaster-General ; and the Woman with the Iron Jaw, Attorney-General. . * . R. BLAINE is not smart. If, in writing to his dear Mr. Fisher, he had requested him to “cut this out and paste it in his hat” instead of to “ burn this up,” that awful Mulligan letter would not be so lively to-day. . . . ORE Mulligan letters ! enough of them now. * Merciful Heaven, aren't there . . “ Is Lying Immoral?” asks the Boston Transcript. Well, really you know, in this campaign it all depends on which side you lie. > LIFE: A FEW MORE. 1, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WASHINGTON, D. C., April 14th. DEAR FISHER: I REALLY wish you would send me on a few more bonds. I borrowed 75 cents yesterday, and find myself unable to return it, My regards to Mrs. Fisher. Burn this letter. J. G. BLAINE, Il. Telegram. (ree ) Boston, April 15th. To J. G, BLAINE, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Wasuincton, D. C.: C N'T do it. Choke the man off till pay day. FISHER. Ill, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WASHINGTON, D. C., April 18th. DEAR FISHER? CTING on the advice contained in your dispatch, I have gone into the House every day by the back stairs, and have been able to dodge the man, but I was compelled yes- terday to borrow 50 cents from another man, member from Texas, who, being anxious to get on a committee, loaned it willingly. This relieves me of temporary embarrassment, yet I must really ask you to ship those bonds, say $84,000, as soon as possible. No one here knows from me that I ever borrowed a dollar in Maine. But I see various channels in which I may be useful. Send me a couple of dollars, anyway. Regards to Mrs. Fisher. . Yours hastily, Burn this letter. J. G. BLAINE. Iv. INDIA STREET, Boston, April 20th. =a dollar and a half. This ought to show you that I appreciate your services. By the way, the party to whom I sent the $84,000 in bonds, says that he paid you the money eight months ago. 1 know how busy you are with the Fort Smith matter and your other duties, and I suppose that you forget these trivial matters. If you happen to find the sum about your clothes, send it on, Yours, ete., Vv. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WasuincTon, D.C., April 24th. FISHER. DEAR FISHER: “Lean awfully for the dollar and a half. It helped the cause along wonderfully. But now the 75 cents man stations himself at the front door of the Capitol and the 50 cent man at the back door, and for two days I have had to get a step ladder and crawl in a window at the side. Please send me $95,000 more bonds. By the way, Morrill and a lot