Judge — December 31, 1887 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a racist political cartoon from *Judge* magazine attacking President Grover Cleveland's free trade policy. The caricatured figure (depicting an African American using a deeply offensive slur in the title) sits amid logs labeled "Free Trade Bill" and "John Bull" (Britain), set in a snowy landscape. The cartoon uses a racial slur as its punchline, equating Cleveland's free trade stance with something contemptible. The "John Bull" reference suggests the cartoonist opposed trade agreements with Britain, likely reflecting protectionist sentiment common in late 19th-century American politics. The satire conflates economic policy disagreement with racist rhetoric—a disturbingly common approach in period political commentary. This represents both the era's virulent racism and intense debate over tariff policy under Cleveland's administration.