Puck — May 7, 1879 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Democrats and Their Elephant" This 1878 *Puck* cartoon satirizes the Democratic Party's relationship with a large elephant. The caption "The Democrats and Their Elephant" suggests the party is being controlled by or dependent upon this beast—likely representing a powerful political force, wealthy backer, or problematic ideology the Democrats were associated with. The small demon-like figure on the right appears to be goading or manipulating the elephant, suggesting external forces driving Democratic policy. The chain around the elephant's leg indicates constraint or control. Without additional context, the specific political issue referenced is unclear—it could relate to Reconstruction politics, currency debates, or patronage scandals of the 1870s. The cartoon's point seems to be that Democrats are either slaves to powerful interests or dangerously controlled by forces they cannot fully master.