The National Game lithograph

Date1860

DescriptionA lithograph of an 1860 Currier & Ives political cartoon titled "The National Game. Three 'Outs' and One 'Run.'" The cartoon depicts a campaign scene between Abraham Lincoln, John Bell, Stephen Douglas and John C. Breckinridge at a baseball game. Lincoln (far right) stands with his foot on "Home Base," advising the other three men, "Gentleman, if any of you should ever take a hand in another match at this game, remember that you must have 'a good bat' and strike a 'fair ball' to make a 'clean score' & a 'home run.'" Lincoln is holding a piece of wood rail reading "Equal Rights and Free Territory" and wearing a belt reading, "Wide Awake Club." A skunk stands near the other men, appearing as though it's ready to "skunk" them. John C. Breckinridge holds his nose and says "I guess I'd better leave for Kentucky, for I smell something strong around here, and begin to think, that we are completely 'skun'd.'" He is holding a bat labelled "Slavery Extension" and wearing a belt reading "Disunion Club." On the far left is John Bell, who says, "It appears to me very singular that we three should strike 'foul' and be 'put out' while old Abe made such a 'good lick.'" He is holding a bat labeled "fusion" and a belt reading, "Union Club." In between Bell and Breckinridge is Stephen Douglas who is saying, "That's because he had that confounded rail, to strike with, I thought our fusion would be a 'short stop' to his career." Douglas is holding a bat labelled "Non Intervention" and a belt reading "Little Giants."

Object numberB-1950-0248

Artist, Creator, or Manufacturer Currier & Ives

Subject Breckinridge, John C. (John Cabell), 1821-1875

Attributes

political cartoons

Classificationsmanuscripts (documents)

Copyrighthttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/

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