ons,
What then are the limitations of the illustration in all its
forms, in so far as it is available for the use of the historian ? It must be obvious that illustrations, both those intended to
make others see and thus reproduce other scenes and other times , as well as those designed to provoke thought and thus influence
opinion are of the greatest value to the historian . But this value is modified or affected by the mechanical difficulties of reproduction , by the standards of taste on the part of both artist and reader, by the varying grades of intelligence among
those for whom the illustration is made, by the degree of artistic ability shown by the illustrator, and by the amount of juris diction over it exercised by editorial or governmental authorities . It is limited by its numerous accidental and intentional errors,
by the inherent characteristics of certain great classes like that of caricature , by the language it employs, and it is also limited by the insatiate demand of the public for daily cartoons from
the same popular artist. The daily cartoon encourages mediocre ideas and even absence of ideas; it is often slovenly in work
manship , and it may become even more ephemeral than do other parts of the newspaper. The personal equation and the reputed artistic temperament that render the illustration vivid and telling may detract from its strict accuracy ; an overpowering sense of humor may lead
the artist to perpetrate a " fake;" the process by which the illus
tration is made, as the camera or the pencil, may carry its own special temptation ; the caricature is by its very nature an exaggeration ; the cartoon may have an even more definite
purpose to engender hatred in time of war than has the literary side of the press , since it seems possible to say in the form of moving pictures, etc ., should not give offense to friendly nations, they could not be prevented unless they contravened the law . — Daily press, February 29, 1916 .
The Democratic National Committee sent out a cartoon that was pub
lished in the daily press of November 5, 1916. It represented Mr. Hughes tearing from a book the record of Democratic achievement under President
Wilson , the Republican candidate's arm being guided by a hand labeled Wall
Street. Beneath was a quotation attributed to Mr. Hughes, “ The whole Democratic accomplishmentmust be wiped off the books." The Chairman of the Republican National Committee protested that the
cartoon was “ false and malicious in every line and word.” — Daily press, November 5 - 7, 1916.
