Judge — June 28, 1890 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis: "Blind!" (Judge, June 28, 1890) This satirical cartoon depicts the Democratic Party as a blind figure leading smaller figures (party members or voters) astray. The central tall figure wears a blindfold marked "BLIND" and carries a walking stick, while several caricatured men gesture in apparent confusion or distress around him. The caption reads: "WANTED—A leader for a poor old party. Apply to the DEMOCRACY, Salt river." "Salt river" was a 19th-century idiom meaning political defeat or ruin. The satire suggests the Democratic Party is directionless and unable to lead effectively, having lost its way. The smaller figures appear to represent party members or supporters frustrated by the party's lack of clear vision or leadership during this period, likely referencing post-Reconstruction political instability.