Judge — June 23, 1888 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Pocket-Handkerchief Campaign" This Judge magazine cover from June 23, 1888 depicts Uncle Sam (personified America) displaying a pocket handkerchief, with the caption: "This will be a great blow at the Democracy." The cartoon satirizes the 1888 presidential campaign, likely referencing a minor or trivial Republican campaign tactic being promoted as a major attack against the Democratic party. The "pocket-handkerchief campaign" appears to be mockery of what Judge viewed as an inconsequential or absurdly small-scale political effort—suggesting Republicans were making mountains out of molehills in their opposition to Democrats. The exaggerated confidence of Uncle Sam's pose contrasts with the triviality of his "weapon," emphasizing Judge's satirical point about the weakness or ridiculousness of the Republican attack strategy.