Cartoon, Political

Title:

The Foul and Most Dreadful Political Murder of Billy Norton

Object Name:

Cartoon, Political

Object ID:

2021.016

Creator:

; Boston Engraving Company

Place of Origin:

Boston, MA

Date:

1891

Description:

Political cartoon, "The Foul and Most Dreadful Political Murder of Billy Norton / by the Merrimack County Democracy. / Supplement to THE REPUBLICAN." Printed by Boston Engraving Company, Boston, MA, 1891. The cartoon illustrates a local contest for control of Democratic party in New Hampshire as portrayed by the Republican party daily newspaper, the New Hampshire Republican, Nashua. It shows the victory of Alvah W. Sulloway (1838-1928) of Franklin, who led the fight to defeat the nomination of William K. Norton (1841-1892) of Concord at the September 14, 1890 party convention in Franklin as a candidate for Merrimack County Sheriff. Sulloway is pictured as the gladiator of "BOSSISM" slaying his opponent, Civil War veteran Billy Norton, cutting off his head and preparing to throw him into his "political" grave. The date of the convention and the names of his slayers are listed on his monument. Prominent Democratic leaders, businessman Charles H. Amsden (1848-1929), author and journalist Henry H. Metcalf (1841-1932), industrialist Warren F. Daniell (1926-1913), and Democratic U. S. Congressman Luther F. McKinney (1841-1922) look on from the sides.

Material:

Paper

Dimensions:

H-13.5 W-17 inches

Provenance:

After the Civil War, local, state, and national politics redefined the Democratic party and its policies in New Hampshire. Alvah W. Sulloway and other Democratic businessman and political leaders depicted in the cartoon were advocates of policies that supported immigration, industrialization, development of transportation and trade networks, stable economic growth, and social stability. In 1860 Sulloway settled in Franklin where he began a long career operating a hosiery mill in association with Walter Aiken and Frank H. Daniell. He also served as a director of numerous railroads in New England, chief among them the Boston and Maine. Sulloway served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives and State Senate through 1892. Upon the Democratic party's nomination of William Jennings Bryan on a free silver platform in the 1896 presidential campaign, Sulloway, who disagreed with its populist policies, left the party and withdrew from politics.

Credit Line:

New Hampshire Historical Society Purchase

People:

Sulloway, Alvah W. (1838-1928), Norton, William K. (1841-1892), Amsden, Charles H. (1848-1929), Daniell, Warren F. (1826-1913), Metcalf, Henry H. (1841-1932), McKinney, Luther F. (1841-1922), Horner, William H. (1840-1918), Foley, Jeremiah D. (1859-1941), Tucker, Frank J. (1844-1912)

Subjects:

Political cartoons, Democratic Party, Gladiators, Murders, Graves, Graveyards, Sheriffs