Judge — July 19, 1890 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon critiques Democratic Party opposition to fair federal elections legislation. A allegorical female figure (representing Liberty or Democracy) stands at a desk holding a sword, with documents labeled "The Fifteenth Amendment" and "Providing For Fair And Free Federal Elections Passed By Congress" visible. On the left, a portrait labeled "A. LINCOLN" hangs on the wall with text "MY WORK WAS NOT IN VAIN"—invoking Lincoln's legacy of preserving the Union and advancing civil rights. The cartoon's caption presents Democratic leaders rejecting fair election provisions, suggesting they oppose measures protecting voting rights (likely targeting African American voters during Reconstruction or the post-Reconstruction era). The satire positions Democrats as obstructing Lincoln's unfinished work and democratic principles themselves.