Judge, 1891-09-05 · page 9 of 18
Judge — September 5, 1891 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1891 *Judge* cartoon satirizes currency policy debates of the Gilded Age. A well-dressed gentleman (likely representing a politician or banker) stands before Lady Liberty, who holds a sign stating "THE SAME DOLLAR FOR THE LABORER AS FOR THE IMPORTER—THAT IS 100 CENT'S TO THE DOLLAR." A coin beneath them appears "MISSING." The cartoon criticizes the speaker's claim that government should ensure stable currency value for working people. The satire suggests his rhetoric about protecting "poor laborers" is hollow—the missing coin implies the promised stability doesn't actually exist. The Capitol building in the background emphasizes this is about government policy. The quoted text (attributed to Albany, August 1891) advocates for sound money benefiting workers, but the cartoon implies such promises are empty political posturing during debates over currency standards and monetary policy that divided America in the 1890s.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
: ‘Sackett Waheims Litho Co Hew York OWNAGE OF BOTH AND THEIR MAINTENANCE AT EQUAL VALUE, “Tam one of those that believe that these men from your snops, these farmers remote from money centres, have the largest interest of all people in the world in having a dollar that is worth one hundred cents every day in the year, and only such. If by any chance we should fall into a condition where one 4ollar is not so good as another, I venture the assertion that that poorer dollar will do its first errand in paying some poor laborer for his work. Therefore, in the conduct of our public affairs, I feel pledged for one that all the influences of the government should be on the side of giving the people only good Toney and just as much of that kind as we cam get.""—Atuany, Aug. 18th, 1891. I | comicbooks.com