Judge — January 22, 1887 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Satisfied" - Judge Magazine, January 22, 1887 This political cartoon depicts a man in military uniform standing satisfied beside a grave monument. The inscription reads: "SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF JOHN ROACH / A VICTIM OF PARTISAN PERSECUTION." The cartoon appears to reference John Roach, a prominent 19th-century American shipbuilder who faced financial difficulties and legal troubles. The satire suggests that someone—likely a political opponent or the current administration—took satisfaction from Roach's misfortune, which the cartoonist characterizes as persecution rather than legitimate justice. The title "Satisfied" implies bitter irony: the figure is pleased by another's downfall. This reflects Judge magazine's typical partisan critique of political enemies and their vindictive tactics during the contentious post-Reconstruction era.