Judge, 1885-01-10 · page 1 of 16
Judge — January 10, 1885 — page 1: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "It Won't Last Long" - Judge Magazine, January 10, 1885 This political cartoon depicts **Democracy as a fragile figure** wearing a top hat labeled "DEMOCRACY," being steadily undermined by various problems. The figure appears weakened, with labels identifying threats: "Party Squabbles," "Bourbon Dissention," "Free Trade," and "Dissatisfaction" eating away at its foundation. A man (likely representing a concerned citizen or political observer) kneels beside the crumbling figure in despair, marked "4 YEARS," suggesting this commentary occurs during a specific presidential term. The satire warns that **American democracy faces internal collapse** from partisan conflict and ideological divisions—particularly between Democratic factions (referenced by "Bourbon" Democrats and "Free Trade" advocates). The title suggests this unstable political state cannot endure. The cartoon reflects 1880s anxieties about governmental dysfunction.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
hf { « vt AT NEW YORK AS SECOND CLASS MATTER. COPYRIGHT 1881 BY THE JUDGE PUBLISHING CO. NEW YORK, JANUARY 10, 1885. 10 Cents. Yrok Bek IT WON’T LAST LONG. comicbooks.com