Judge — October 11, 1890 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a Civil War-era satirical cartoon titled "The Same Old Snake," depicting a figure in Western/cowboy attire holding a sign reading "Treachery to the Union in its Hour of Peril." The caption states: "He was first to desert the Union in its hour of need." The cartoon criticizes a specific politician (identity unclear from visible text) for abandoning the Union during the Civil War crisis. The "snake" metaphor suggests betrayal and untrustworthiness. The Western costume may indicate a regional figure, possibly from a border state or Western state that sided with the Confederacy or remained neutral. The American flag visible in the background emphasizes the patriotic duty being violated. This appears designed to shame war-era deserters or political opponents of Union preservation.