Judge — November 17, 1888 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis This 1888 *Judge* magazine cover satirizes the presidential election. A central figure (likely Benjamin Harrison, the Republican candidate) stands triumphantly holding an American flag while crowds cheer below. The banner lists protectionist Republican campaign promises: "American Wages for American Workmen," "No English Free Trade." The caption reads: "Three Cheers for Ben Harrison!" and "Aint three cheers and a Tiger for the Jones, who elected him!" The satire criticizes the Republican Party's appeal to working-class voters through nationalist, anti-free-trade rhetoric. The cartoon mocks how these populist slogans mobilized supporters, with the implication that such patriotic appeals obscure corporate interests. The crowded, celebratory masses suggest manufactured enthusiasm rather than genuine grassroots sentiment.