Politics in 1888 by Eugene Field
The poem explores the theme of politics and its effects on society. It portrays politicians as self-serving individuals who prioritize their own interests over the welfare of the people. The speaker expresses disillusionment with the political system, suggesting that it is corrupt and ineffective in bringing about positive change. The tone is critical and satirical, highlighting the flaws in the system and the negative consequences of political actions.
By Eugene Field · First published 1888 · Genre: Political Satire, Poetry, Historical Commentary · 146 words
First lines
The Cleveland Leader must be getting ready for the campaign of 1888. We / find upon its editorial page quite a pretentious poem, entitled "Alpha / and Omega," and here is a sample stanza:
"Whose name will stand for coming time / As hypocrites in prose and rhyme, / And be despised in every clime? / The Mugwumps."
Well, may be so, but may we be permitted to add a stanza which seems to / us to be very pertinent just now?
And who next year, we'd like to know, / Will feed the Cleveland Leader crow, / Just as they did three years ago? / The Mugwumps.
What this Textopian page supports
Politics in 1888 is listed on Textopian as a poem by Eugene Field, dated 1888 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Eugene Field
- Date: 1888 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Political Satire, Poetry, Historical Commentary, Editorial, Humor
- Length: 146 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Politics in 1888 by Eugene Field
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Similar titles
- Chicago Newspaper Life by Eugene Field
- The Militants Rhymes For The Times by Harry Graham
- The Daily News 1874 by James Stamers
- On A Battle Or Journalism Or Points Of View by Hilaire Belloc
- A Civil Servant by Edward Everett Hale
- The Colonies by Harry Graham
Genres
- Political Satire — The book critiques political figures and movements of the time, using humor and irony to address serious political issues.
- Poetry — The work includes poetic elements, particularly in the form of stanzas that convey political commentary.
- Historical Commentary — It reflects on the political climate of 1888, providing insights into the events and sentiments of that era.
- Editorial — The style resembles an editorial piece, discussing current events and opinions relevant to the political landscape.
Tags
Politics · History · Non-Fiction · American History · 19th Century · Elections · Government · Society · Culture · Social Commentary · Humor · Satire