Judge — May 2, 1891 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Getting Out of the Hole" This is a Judge magazine cover from May 2, 1891, satirizing the 1890 spring elections' overwhelming Republican victories. The caption reads: "The Spring Elections have gone overwhelmingly Republican." The cartoon depicts a Democratic donkey (the party's symbol) struggling to climb out of a hole, while a ragged Democratic figure with a top hat stands nearby looking dejected. Signs reading "Washington" and "Elections 1890" mark the scene. The donkey holds a tattered flag, suggesting the party's weakened state. The satire mocks the Democrats' electoral defeat and their difficult position afterward. The "hole" represents their political predicament—they must work hard to recover from their losses. This reflects the actual 1890 congressional elections where Republicans made significant gains.