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The Democratic National Convention |
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| “Shylock, We Would Have Moneys and Votes” |
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Source: Harper’s Weekly |
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Date:
July 6, 1872, p. 528
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Click to see
a large version of this cartoon |
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Complete HarpWeek Explanation:
After “American Battle of Dorking,” Nast set the stage for the scheduled
coalition of the Liberal Republican and Democratic Parties at the latter’s
convention in Baltimore on July 9-10, 1872. In another escapist retreat into
the convenient detachment of Shakespeare for the July 6 issue of Harper’s
Weekly, Greeley is Antonio, the merchant of Venice, presented by his crafty
friend and supporter, Senator Reuben Fenton (as Bassanio), to August Belmont,
the outgoing chair of the Democratic National Committee, who is depicted as the
longsuffering yet apparently accommodating money-lender, Shylock. Here, the
money lending is for vote buying.
This stereotyped image is obviously predicated on a general knowledge of
Belmont’s Jewish heritage, his career as a veteran agent of the House of
Rothschild, and his status as an international banker. Contrary to the theme of
this cartoon, however, Belmont had never supported Greeley and strongly favored
diplomat Charles Francis Adams for the presidential nomination. Belmont had
been the guiding spirit of the Democratic Party since 1860, but no longer
enjoyed the confidence of party leaders. He resigned the party chairmanship as
soon as his duties at the Baltimore convention were completed.
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Background: 1859 - 1871
