![[LINCOLN, Abraham]. CURRIER & IVES, publishers. "'The Irrepressible Conflict,' or The Republican Barge in Danger," a lithographic political cartoon. New York: Currier & Ives, 1860. 1 page (13¼ x 17¾ in.), lightly browned, small tear in left margin neatly mended.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2006/NYR/2006_NYR_01720_0064_000(010312).jpg?w=1)
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[LINCOLN, Abraham]. CURRIER & IVES, publishers. "'The Irrepressible Conflict,' or The Republican Barge in Danger," a lithographic political cartoon. New York: Currier & Ives, 1860. 1 page (13¼ x 17¾ in.), lightly browned, small tear in left margin neatly mended.
THE REPUBLICAN CONTENDERS, 1860: A comic depiction of the multiple Republican contenders for the Presidency on the eve of the election. The Party is represented as a "barge" or longboat in which the candidates and a Negro (with a sash reading "Discords Patent Life Preserver") are passengers. Lincoln sits at the rudder at far left, and announces "I'll take the helm. I've steered a flat boat before." William Seward is being heaved out of the boat, and cries "Don't throw me overboard! I built this boat and I can save it." Stanton(?) responds "Over you go, Billy! Between you and I there is an 'Irrepressible Conflict.'" On the shore at the right, Uncle Sam views their foundering boat with dismay, calling out "You won't save your crazy old craft by throwing your pilot overboard; better have that tarnal Nigger out!": a metaphor for the great risks the Republicans ran in adopting an anti-slavery platform.
THE REPUBLICAN CONTENDERS, 1860: A comic depiction of the multiple Republican contenders for the Presidency on the eve of the election. The Party is represented as a "barge" or longboat in which the candidates and a Negro (with a sash reading "Discords Patent Life Preserver") are passengers. Lincoln sits at the rudder at far left, and announces "I'll take the helm. I've steered a flat boat before." William Seward is being heaved out of the boat, and cries "Don't throw me overboard! I built this boat and I can save it." Stanton(?) responds "Over you go, Billy! Between you and I there is an 'Irrepressible Conflict.'" On the shore at the right, Uncle Sam views their foundering boat with dismay, calling out "You won't save your crazy old craft by throwing your pilot overboard; better have that tarnal Nigger out!": a metaphor for the great risks the Republicans ran in adopting an anti-slavery platform.