Judge — July 28, 1888 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This 1888 *Judge* cartoon satirizes political fraud during the Gilded Age. The illustration depicts con artists using "the Innocent Old Man" as bait in a scam scheme. The sign reads "WE ARE THE DEFRAUDERS' FRIENDS" with references to Cleveland and John Bull (Britain), suggesting the cartoon critiques political manipulation involving international trade or diplomatic relations. The "Boss Streeter" figure on the left represents corrupt political operatives, while the three men on the right appear to be victims or accomplices. The dialogue warns that innocent-seeming figures are "decoys" to lure people into schemes that would "ruin you." The satire targets late-19th-century political corruption and fraudulent practices, likely referencing specific contemporary political scandals or policy disputes involving Cleveland's administration.