Life, 1889-05-23 · page 1 of 20
Life — May 23, 1889 — page 1: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "A Modern Instance" - Life Magazine, May 23, 1880 This political cartoon satirizes President Benjamin Harrison's alleged disloyalty to the Democratic Party. The caption references Harrison's twenty years of public service but notes Democratic friends accused him of abandoning party principles, particularly regarding "the Indian question" and White House appointments. The main illustration depicts two figures in conflict—one appears to be a military or political figure being confronted by a crowned figure (likely representing the Democratic Party or its leadership). The dialogue references Shakespeare's *Richard II*, with accusations of "slander" and poisonous words. The satire critiques Harrison as a turncoat who abandoned Democratic positions, making him an example of political betrayal. The elaborate decorative border contains various historical and satirical vignettes typical of Life's ornate Victorian design.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
WI MF eo ge efor us Cost. "Maine. 1e Best. ved “for arters of s to-day on that \GTHES, k City. prehicamys g SVM. =) NEW’ YORK, MAY 23, 1889. NUMBER 334. Entered at the New York Podt Office as Second-Class Mail Matter. Copyright, 1889, by Mitcuert & Miter. A MODERN INSTANCE. “ Perhaps there is no one in the country who has done as much for General Harrison during the last twenty years as I have, but because our Democratic friends down in Indianapolis have started the hue and cry on me, Brother Ben. does not seem to feel that he can afford to recognize me as an acquaintance, and consequently I don’t take dinner at the White House, as might be expected.” —Duddey's Letter to Van Pelt. “Bolingbroke: EXTON, 1 THANK THEE NOT, FOR THOU HAST WROUGHT A DEED OF SLANDER, WITH THY FATAL HAND, UPON MY HEAD AND ALL THIS FAMOUS LAND, Exton: FROM YOUR OWN MOUTH, MY LORD, DID I THIS DEED. Bolingbroke: THEY LOVE NOT POISON THAT DO POISON NEED. THE GUILT OF CONSCIENCE TAKE THOU FOR THY LABOR, BUT NEITHER MY GOOD WORD NOR PRINCELY FAVOR.” Richard I, comicbooks.com