Judge, 1890-05-31 · page 5 of 24
Judge — May 31, 1890 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This political cartoon satirizes the Louisiana Lottery's attempted bribery of the state. The allegorical figure on the left represents Louisiana (shown as a classical female personification), while the demonic figure on the right represents the lottery operators. The devil-like character tempts Louisiana with a chest labeled "Million Dollars" in exchange for operating rights. The cartoon critiques what Judge frames as a "scandalous swindle"—the lottery's offer of a million-dollar payment to Louisiana for permission to continue its operations. This was a real historical controversy: the Louisiana Lottery was notorious for fraud and corruption, and this cartoon warns Louisianans against accepting the bribe, depicting the choice as a moral test between virtue and corruption. The devil imagery emphasizes the moral depravity Judge associates with the lottery scheme.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VOL.I8 NO.450 MAY 3! 1890. ‘ PRICE 10 CENTS. ENTERED aT THE Post OFFict AT New YORK AS SECOND-CLASS MATTER, Coprmionr [8 90 By THE Juoge Pustisnine Co. TEMPTATION! That Seandalous Swindle, the Louisiana Lottery, has offered Louisiana a Million Dollars for the right to carry on its business in that State.