1862

Not Up To Time; Or, Interference would be very Welcome. Punch, Volume 43, September 13, 1862, p. 111

Lincoln, as the Northern champion, and an unidentified Southern opponent appear in this cartoon as boxers who have knocked each other senseless. Both are shown collapsing into the arms of their black seconds. Propping up the two exhausted fighters, these two grinning cornermen seem to be enjoying the spectacle of the white folks beating each other up, and perhaps even want the fight to continue. As a young man of commonplace origin growing up on the rough frontier, Lincoln had been known for his skill as a "wrassler" and his ability to defend himself with his fists. His Confederate opponent, however, is clearly not the aristocratic Jefferson Davis, who would not have condescended to participate in any such rough-and-tumble.

This cartoon dates from several years before the adoption of the "Marquess of Queensberry rules," which formalized the sport of boxing in its modern form. The viewer will note that the two combatants wear early versions of boxing gloves. Bare-knuckle "scientific" boxing, as a form of the "manly art of self-defense," was more highly regarded by the British. In contrast, the "Swells" looked down on prizefighting with gloves as a sport more typically associated with the lower classes, one which was even regarded with suspicion for its associations with criminal elements and professional gamblers.

The contest in question is being conducted without a referee, and the cartoon's caption "Not Up to Time" [i.e. "not up to the job," or "not good enough"] may be a way of saying that neither of the American combatants appears to have the diplomatic skill or military prowess necessary to resolve the bloody stalemate. The only spectators present at this grim slugfest are the French Eagle, attired in a natty uniform, and the British Lion, gentlemanly of appearance in bowler hat and saque suit. As the Lion looks on with evident concern, the Eagle archly suggests that they "call the police" to break up the fight. A note from the Introduction to the cumulated Volume XLIII of Punch explains: "France had proposed to intervene in the American quarrel." Perhaps the caption also faults the European powers for not having taken the lead in offering to mediate a settlement.