Judge — March 29, 1884 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes Republican Party politics as a rigged card game. A hand labeled "Republican Party" holds playing cards showing the faces of prominent Republican figures including Grant and Blaine. The cards are labeled "Protection" (referring to protective tariffs, a key Republican policy). Stacks of poker chips sit on the table, suggesting money and corruption. The satire implies Republicans are manipulating their political "cards" (their candidates and policies) to win power and profits—treating politics like a fixed gambling game rather than honest governance. The cartoon likely dates to the late 19th century, when tariff policy and Republican leadership were contentious political issues. The joke targets Republican hypocrisy: they claim moral authority while engaging in cynical political maneuvering for financial gain.