We return to Newt Gingrich’s late-19th Century soulmate, James G. Blaine, a former Speaker-of-the-House, nominated by the Republican Party as their Presidential choice. His run for the White House was brought down by his many accumulated acts of corruption and impropriety, which Puck magazine parodied in a series of cartoons by showing Blaine as a “Tattooed-Man”, branded head-to-toe by his numerous sins. Arrogant beyond belief, and knowned equally for his magnetism, braggadacio, and lying, he is portrayed above by artist Bernhard Gillam in the September 17th, 1884 issue of Puck, as Narcissus; or, The Man Who Was Mashed on Himself. (“Mashed” being 19th Century slang for “In Love”.) The adoring faces in the flowers include the editor of the Republican-owned/controlled N.Y. Tribune, which like its modern Fox News counter-part, twisted, slanted, and completely fabricated news stories for political purpose. The other dandelioned face is John A. Logan — Blaine’s running mate.

Click on the above cartoon, to both view it in detail, and read the tattooes and captions.

Doug Wheeler

ElectionComics NYPuck TattooedMan