Judge — September 18, 1886 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Judge magazine cartoon satirizes a Republican Senator (identified as Edmunds in the OCR text) who appears to be caught in a compromising situation. The figure is surrounded by what appear to be political opponents or critics, with documents visible suggesting financial or ethical impropriety. The Shakespeare quotation (from *Othello*) about stealing a purse versus one's reputation suggests the cartoon's central critique: the Senator is accused of damaging his own integrity or reputation through questionable conduct—a moral theft worse than monetary theft. The wild donkey flying overhead likely represents political chaos or disorder resulting from the scandal. The cartoon appears to attack Republican leadership hypocrisy or corruption, using classical literary reference to emphasize the gravity of the offense. Without the publication date visible, the specific incident remains unclear.