Judge — March 31, 1888 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis: "Easter Eggs—Both Addled" (Judge, March 31, 1888) This cartoon depicts a hen sitting on two decorative Easter eggs labeled "FREE TRADE BILL" and "FISHERY BILL." The caption quotes "Old Hen Cleveland," referring to President Grover Cleveland, asking "Will they ever hatch?" The satire mocks Cleveland's legislative agenda during his first term. The "addled eggs" represent bills the administration proposed that appear unlikely to succeed—comparing failed legislative initiatives to rotten eggs that won't produce viable results. The hen metaphor suggests Cleveland's helplessness or ineffectiveness in advancing his political program. This reflects contemporary frustration with Cleveland's handling of trade and fishery policy disputes, likely during the tariff debates of the 1880s.