Albumen Photo of an 1885 Political Cartoon Opposing Central American Unification

Good. Scarce political cartoon (albumen photo of a drawing, on a cabinet card mount) condemning the short-lived 1885 attempt at reuniting the five Central American republics led by Guatemalan General Justo Rufino Barrios. Guatemala and Honduras supported the effort, while Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Costa Rica opposed it, as did Mexico. Barrios was considered dictatorial and overly ambitious by his opponents and is depicted here as a rather skinny lion with Mexico holding its tail and identified as the "American Nero." Several of his "victims" are depicted as skulls underneath the lion. Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and El Salvador are personified as beautiful women under a banner reading "Unidas no nos come el 'Minotauro'" -- "United we will not be eaten by the Minotaur." Britannica says "Barrios became Guatemalan army commander and the power behind the president, Miguel García Granados, in 1871, when the Conservative Party government was overthrown. After replacing García Granados in 1873, Barrios carried out sweeping reforms based on his liberal philosophies. His presidency became known as “the Reform.” He subjugated the local aristocracy; expelled the Jesuits and confiscated church property; established civil marriage and divorce; enlarged and laicized the school system; built highways, railroads, and telegraph lines; encouraged the growing of coffee as the basis of the country’s agriculture; and promulgated a new constitution (1876). about unification by force, but he was killed in battle while invading neighbouring El Salvador. [He] intervened repeatedly in the affairs of the other Central American republics in an effort to restore the five-nation federation that had collapsed in 1838. When political persuasion failed, he attempted to bring about unification by force, but he was killed in battle while invading neighbouring El Salvador." Mount measures 4.25 x 6.25 inches, contrast is light. PLEASE NOTE -- our first two images are an accurate representation of the image. The third image has enhanced contrast to aid in viewing the cartoon.

Item #24256

Price: $150.00