--- title: Tyrants Prostrate, Liberty Triumphant (pro-Polk cartoon on Dorr), 1844 url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/tyrants-prostrate-liberty-triumphant-polk-1844/ description: 'Cartoon set in Thomas Dorr''s prison cell: Polk and Dallas clasp hands beside the chained Dorr, while Clay, Frelinghuysen (in clerical robes) and Webster…' section: Collection --- [Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/) **Content note:** Speech balloons contain anti-Catholic and nativist wording ('the ruins of Popery') in the mouths of the Whig figures, written by a Democratic cartoonist and shown unaltered. This object is shown as it was published. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) [![Tyrants Prostrate, Liberty Triumphant (pro-Polk cartoon on Dorr), 1844](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/tyrants-prostrate-liberty-triumphant-polk-1844.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/tyrants-prostrate-liberty-triumphant-polk-1844.jpg) # Tyrants Prostrate, Liberty Triumphant (pro-Polk cartoon on Dorr), 1844 Cartoon set in Thomas Dorr's prison cell: Polk and Dallas clasp hands beside the chained Dorr, while Clay, Frelinghuysen (in clerical robes) and Webster speak lines of aristocracy and of uniting church and state "on the ruins of Popery". Tells: "Tyrants" and "Aristocracy" as labels for the opponents (name-calling); a staged threat of church-state union (fear appeal). ## Text on the object Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked ``` [Angel with trumpet:] Speed the sound O'er all your plains The Martyr's freed from shameful chains! Around his brow will freemen twine A glorious wreath of myrtle vine! Our Polk obey the people's call; The Tyrant sees his shackles fall! And every son of liberty Shout long live Dorr the great the Free! [Balloon, Dallas:] As sure as a God of Justice rules on high he will be free. [Balloon, Polk:] The people will speak in tones of thunder yet, they brook no old Kings charter, to enchain true Patriots! [Balloon, Dorr:] The process of this Court does not reach the man within, From this sentence of the Court I appeal to the People of our State and our Country! [Balloon, Clay:] Alas! alas! when Dorr is free King Charles charter will be destroyed, and with it the last British form of Government in these States. and the last hope of our Aristocracy for the people will have triumphed ! [Balloon, Frelinghuysen:] Ah my master say not so for then Church and State will never be united ! [Balloon, Webster:] Yes they will If we join the American Party, and raise a Protestant succession on the ruins of Popery. Tariff Dallas Polk Dorr Clay Frelinghuysen Webster Lith of & Pub.d by J. Baillie 118 Nassau St N.Y. Entered according to Act of Congress in in the Year 1844 by J. Baillie in the Clerks Office in the Dt. Court of the So. Destrect of N.Y. TYRANTS PROSTRATE LIBERTY TRIUMPHANT. ``` The first letter of the lower-left imprint is cut by the plate edge. "Destrect" is as printed. Speaker labels in brackets are assigned from the position of each balloon's tail and the printed name labels beneath the figures; they are not printed in the balloons. [← Treeing Coons (pro-Polk cartoon), 1844](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/treeing-coons-polk-1844/) [Grand National Whig Banner. "Onward" (Clay and Frelinghuysen), 1844 →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/onward-clay-frelinghuysen-whig-banner-1844/) ## Using the same techniques - [Behistun (Bisotun) rock relief and trilingual inscription of Darius I: the king, two attendants and the bound rebel leaders beneath the winged figure of Ahuramazda](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/behistun-relief-darius-and-rebels-521bce/) (Achaemenid Empire · 0000 · Card stacking, Name-calling, Testimonial). Content note: Shows bound captives before the king, and the inscription records the mutilation and public execution of rebel leaders, as the king's own account. - [Passional Christi und Antichristi: the emperor kisses the pope's foot (leaf 'Antichristus')](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/passional-christi-antichristi-emperor-kisses-pope-1521/) (Electoral Saxony · 1521 · Name-calling, Card stacking) - [Anacoana fut pendue sans raison (engraving in Le miroir de la cruelle et horrible tyrannie espagnole)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/anacoana-hanged-miroir-tyrannie-espagnole-1620/) (Dutch Republic · 1620 · Fear appeal, Name-calling). Content note: Engraving of a hanged, bare-breasted Taino woman, burning huts and people being killed by Spanish soldiers. - [Ondersoeckt de Geesten, ofse van den Duyvel syn, of niet (the De Witt brothers as devils)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/ondersoeckt-de-geesten-de-witt-devils-1672/) (Dutch Republic · 1672 · Scapegoating, Name-calling) - [The Highlanders Medley, or The Duke Triumphant (A Loyal Song)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/highlanders-medley-duke-triumphant-1746/) (Great Britain · 1746 · Name-calling, Transfer) - [The North Briton, No. XLV, 23 April 1763 (John Wilkes), opening page](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/north-briton-no-45-wilkes-1763/) (Kingdom of Great Britain · Apr 23, 1763 · Name-calling) - [The Bloody Massacre perpetrated in King Street Boston on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Regt.](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/revere-bloody-massacre-king-street-1770/) (Province of Massachusetts Bay · Mar 1770 · Name-calling, Card stacking). Content note: Hand-coloured engraving of bloodied dead and wounded colonists after soldiers fired on a crowd. - [Marche du Dom Quichotte moderne pour la deffence du Moulin des Abus (March of the Modern Don Quixote in Defence of the Mill of Abuses)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/dom-quichotte-moulin-des-abus-1791/) (France · 1791 · Name-calling, Transfer)