Why did cartoonists in the 1800's depict Abraham Lincoln as a Monkey was it

[ObamaWeBush]

Bush's fault racism or free speech? http://www.indiana.edu/~liblilly/cartoon/images/monkey.jpg

A quick search shows a lot of presidential monkey business
My guess is Partisan angst

 

[BURNITt]

It was meanness. When will you have enough?