A Moonshine Scene

The specter of Caesarism disappeared on May 29, 1875, when Grant wrote a long letter denying that he had any intention of seeking a third term. The Weekly published Grant’s complete text underneath the cartoon.

The President was tired and discouraged by the continuing economic depression, scandals and Southern agitation, and uncertain of victory if he did receive the nomination.

Two months earlier, Nast had showed James Gordon Bennett, Jr. (Herald) and Whitelaw Reid (Tribune) vainly trying to stab the apparition of Bottom the Ass in A Moonshine Scene from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Now he finally had the last laugh.