1-150-276 - The Cartoon Collector/Heritage-Images

'King Cotton Bound; Or, The Modern Prometheus', 1861. King Cotton is represented as Prometheus who, firegiver and champion of the people, is condemned by Jupiter to be bound to a rock for eternity. Every day, an eagle will tear at his liver, and every night, his liver will regrow. His suffering will never end. After President Lincoln blockaded the ports of the Southern States, their main export, cotton, could not get through. Britain at this time imported most of its cotton from the United States and would shortly start to feel the pinch. The eagle tearing at Prometheus's liver represents both Southern and Northern States as illustrated by the number of stars on its wings. Thus, both sides are responsible for the distress caused by the cotton not being able to leave port. From Punch, or the London Charivari, November 2, 1861.