Life, 1892-11-10 · page 12 of 16
Life — November 10, 1892 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Political Satire from Life Magazine This page satirizes the 1884 presidential election. Life magazine's fictional "ticket" nominated Ward McAllister (a prominent New York socialite) for president and Albert E. Wettin for vice president—a joke about fashionable, out-of-touch elites. The main cartoon shows their imaginary defeat, with elaborate explanations of why various voting blocs rejected them: Southern voters opposed the Force Bill, Northern protectionists favored other candidates, the Farmers' Alliance split over currency issues ("Pie issue," likely silver coinage), and different factions pulled in opposite directions. The satire mocks both Life's own editorial positions and the fractious political climate where no coherent coalition could form. The secondary cartoons ("In Fashionable Circles," the Mawson anecdote, the gender-confusion joke) reinforce the theme of disconnected, foolish society figures—suggesting that elite socialites like McAllister were utterly unsuited to represent the nation's diverse economic interests.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE’S TICKET. For Presipent, WARD MCALLISTER, Of New York and Newport. For Vice-Presive: ALBERT WE AS IT WAS TO HAVE BEEN. HE worst has happened. Lire’s ticket is defeated ceive a single electoral vote. Tt will not re- WE hardly know what to say. Our hopes were so high and now we feel that we are the principal citizens in a cocked hat. The cause is not far to find. In the South, the people who feared IN FASHIONABLE CIRCLES. ‘1 DON'T SEE ANYBODY HERE WHO IS ANYRODY !"* ITHER DOT!" the Force Bill voted against our ticket, and in the North, the people who favor a Force Bill did not vote for it. The Protectionists voted for the other candidates, and the Free Traders voted against ours, The Farmers’ Alliance deserted us on account of the Pie issue, and the silver men were opposed to the green goods plank in our platform. But, with it all, our candidates have carried themselves like men through this trying ordeal. Lire has not said one word during the entire canvass that it would wish to expunge or take back. “To the victors belong the spoils,” and we hereby withdraw any hopes we had of even a fourth<lass postmastership. [¥ ight of recent experiences, Labor ike Lightning, Will be unlikely to strike twice in the same place. “ ON'T you and Mawson speak any more, Witherup ?"" “ Nope.” “Why not?” “He sold me a horse once.” ESCRIPTIONS of Revolutionary bat- tles should always be writ- ten in chased English. H E: Asa woman you will understand— SHE: How dare you? lamnota woman. [am only a girl. FURNITURE EVER GOT HIS IDEA,” comicbooks.com