Content note: 1888 Republican cartoon showing free trade and Britain as one hostile figure, with a mocking English-accent caption. This object is shown as it was published. Why

Saved! The Republican Party throws its protecting shield over American labor

Los Angeles print. A woman with a flag holds a shield, "Protection to American labor! Chicago Convention 1888", over a worker and children; a wreath names Lincoln, Grant, Garfield and Logan. A human-faced lion labelled "Free trade" and "'Tis Hengish you know" claws at it with a paw marked "Mills", with a Union Jack tail reading "What England lost under George III". It argues the Republican position.

Date: 1888
Period: Pre-1914
Made by: Carl Browne, Los Angeles (copyright claimant); Cactus Print (printer)
Region: North America
Country: United States
Medium: Cartoon
Issuer type: Individual
Regime: Cleveland Administration
Leader: Grover Cleveland
Audience: Domestic public
Purpose: Persuade or win support
Themes: Elections and party politics, Economy and finance
Event: 1888 US Election
Techniques: Name-calling Transfer
Source: Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
Source: Library of Congress, retrieved October 2, 2026
Rights: Public domain by age (published 1888); LOC rights advisory: No known restrictions on publication
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C.

Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

SAVED! / THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THROWS ITS PROTECTING SHIELD OVER AMERICAN LABOR. / PROTECTION TO AMERICAN LABOR! / CHICAGO CONVENTION 1888 / HARRISON [and] MORTON [on banner] / Lincoln, GRANT, Garfield, Logan. / FREE TRADE / 'TIS HENGISH YOU KNOW? / MILLS / WHAT ENGLAND LOST UNDER GEORGE III / AND CHRIS. BUCKLEY / Los Angeles "Cactus" Print. / Carl Browne, del. / COPYRIGHTED BY CARL BROWNE, LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA 1888.

Small lettering on the banners and wreath is partly illegible and is marked only where it could be read.