1-150-685 - The Cartoon Collector/Heritage-Images

'A Sop to Cerberus', 1872. This cartoon shows Louis Adolphe Thiers, the first president of the Third Republic, and Leon Gambetta, the deputy for Marseilles. Here they are threatened by Cerberus, which, in Greek mythology, was the three-headed dog guarding the entrance to Hades. The heads represent Legitimist, Imperial and Orleanist, which groups, with the Red Republicans, were warring continually and causing France's administration great problems. This cartoon relates to a speech given by M Thiers on 18th December in which he said he had fought all his life against Socialism and Demagogy. He called for a Vote of Confidence. The vote was carried by 267 to 117. From Punch, or the London Charivari, December 21, 1872.