Corruption Collection (#14)

TREASURY CARTOON, 1883. Christmas at Washington. Joseph Kepplers 1883 cartoon from Puck magazine depicts federal officials helping themselves to the tax surplus in the treasury while the taxpayer

NAST: TWEEDs DOWNFALL. Thomas Nasts cartoon comment on the downfall of William M. Boss Tweed in the New York city and state elections of 1871

Electoral Bribery
ELECTORAL PURITY the British voter refuses to accept 5 pounds for his vote - his starting price is 15 pounds

GEORGE HUDSON (1800-71)
GEORGE HUDSON English financier. Invested inheritance in railways and eventually controlled over 1000 miles of railroad. Lost fortune due to corruption

A Liberal Candidate
Show of Hands for a Liberal Candidate. Election satire showing a young candidate being very liberal indeed with his attempt to bribe constituents

Warren Hastings
WARREN HASTINGS English colonial administrator in India impeached in 1788 for corruption stands before the Court of Peers in Westminster Hall. A lady spectator faints!

Church Cashes In
The Catholic Church cashes in on Lourdes, offering cures (65 years of success !), the story of Bernadette, and the only brand of candles officially approved by the Virgin Mary

Legal expenses of an election
A cartoon satirising The Ordinary Legal Expenses of an Election

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"Unmasking the Beast: A Historical Journey through Corruption" Step into the world as we delve into captivating cartoons and artworks that expose the dark underbelly of power. In 1871, Thomas Nast's powerful indictment of Tweed Ring reveals a shocking tale of greed and manipulation. The Tammany Tiger roams freely, symbolizing the unchecked influence wielded by figures like Boss Tweed, James Ingersoll, and George Miller. Travel further back in time to Hieronymus Bosch's "The Garden of Earthly Delights, " painted between 1490-1500. This enigmatic masterpiece serves as an allegory for mankind's descent into moral decay – a theme eerily resonant with our exploration. Witness how corruption seeped beyond politics into other spheres. Inspired by Vanderbilt's secret rebates, an American cartoon from 1873 depicts a farmer desperately trying to awaken his fellow countrymen to the railroad menace within their midst – a clear sign that corruption knows no bounds. Idol-worship takes center stage in an engraving from 1740 titled "Idol-Worship or the Way to Preferment. " It exposes how blind devotion can lead individuals astray, sacrificing integrity at the altar of personal gain. Fast forward to 1884 when Police Commissioner Roosevelt and NY Governor Cleveland faced off against corruption head-on. Their battle against institutionalized wrongdoing became emblematic of a larger struggle for justice and transparency. As we journey through history, let us not forget ancient tales that echo our present reality. Curius Dentatus' refusal to accept bribes from Samnites reminds us that even in antiquity, there were those who stood firm against corrupt practices. Finally, immerse yourself in vivid scenes depicting elections throughout centuries – "The Election II: Canvassing for Votes, " "The Election III: The Polling, " and "An Election Entertainment.