Judge — May 26, 1888 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Democrat's $50,000 Pitcher" This 1888 cartoon satirizes the Democratic Party's campaign strategy. The large figure—likely a Democratic campaign operative or party leader—is depicted as a baseball pitcher about to throw, while two men in top hats (possibly Republican opponents or party officials) stand nearby. The caption's dialogue references the 1884 election: Grove (a Democratic figure) tells the pitcher to "slug them" using the same tactics from four years prior. The response "Fellers, 1884 ain't now!" suggests the Democrats' old strategies won't work in 1888. The "$50,000 pitcher" likely refers to substantial campaign spending. The baseball metaphor represents electoral competition. The cartoon mocks the Democrats for recycling failed campaign tactics rather than adapting to current political circumstances.