Monikins, The

Monikins, The, allegorical satire by Cooper, published in 1835.

Sir John Goldencalf meets Noah Poke, a Yankee sea captain, in Paris, where they become acquainted with four monkeys who have been traveling in Europe: Dr. Reasono, Lord Chatterino, Lady Chatterissa, and Mistress Vigilance Lynx. The knight and the captain, after being enlightened concerning the superior institutions of these “Monikins,” accompany them to their homeland in the polar regions. Sir John visits the countries of Leaphigh (England), whose society is founded on a rigid system of castes and a false social hierarchy; Leapthrough (France), which he considers unprincipled, erratic, and selfish; and Leaplow (the U.S.), where the leveling tendency of democratic politics has destroyed virtue and distinction. Leaplow is governed according to a National Allegory (the Constitution), by a Great Sachem (President), Riddles (senators), a Legion (representatives), and Supreme Arbitrators (Supreme Court). The system operates by the institution of contrasting parties, “Perpendicular” and “Horizontal,” sometimes supplemented by a third group, “Tangents.” These parties are led by the Godlikes, who bow to the dominant commercial interests, allowing society to become “the great moral eclipse,” in which “the great moral postulate of principle” is overshadowed by “the great immoral postulate known as interest,” and public opinion is manipulated by scheming demagogues and a powerful press. When Sir John returns to England, he marries his patient fiancée, Anna Etherington, while Captain Poke returns to Connecticut.