Judge — November 30, 1889 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Just an Old Poster" This November 1889 *Judge* cartoon satirizes a Thanksgiving proclamation. A figure identified as "Friar Grover" (referencing President Grover Cleveland) holds an old, weathered poster proclaiming thanksgiving blessings and prosperity. The poster appears tattered and outdated, with text mentioning "Free Trade" and references to Cleveland's administration. The satire mocks Cleveland's Thanksgiving proclamation as hollow rhetoric disconnected from reality. The worn, damaged poster suggests his words ring false or have aged poorly. The reference to "free trade" indicates this likely critiques Cleveland's tariff policies, which opponents blamed for economic hardship. The friar costume implies religious hypocrisy—preaching gratitude while policies harm citizens. The Capitol building visible in the background anchors this as political commentary on federal leadership.