Judge — October 24, 1891 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon depicts a figure identified as "Iago Hill" in an ornate, theatrical costume, standing amid gravestones in what appears to be a cemetery. The reference to Shakespeare's *Othello* villain suggests this is satirizing someone manipulating events from behind the scenes. The caption indicates Hill is in a win-win position: if "Flower" wins, it benefits Hill; if Flower fails, Hill remains advantaged. This appears to reference late 19th-century American politics, likely involving David B. Hill and either Joseph H. Choate or another political rival nicknamed "Flower." The satire suggests Hill is orchestrating outcomes regardless of the election's result—a Machiavellian operator controlling the political landscape. The cemetery setting emphasizes the supposedly fatal consequences of his manipulation for his opponents.