Judge — October 22, 1892 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical cartoon about Grover Cleveland's electoral record. The sign shows "Cleveland's New York Record" with voting majorities listed: 1882 (192,000), 1884 (roughly 1,100), and 1888 (14,000), with 1892 blank—suggesting his support was declining dramatically. The caption references "Nancy Hanks Cleveland" (the President's wife) "lowering the record," playing on the word "record" as both electoral performance and a literal downward trend. The crowded scene of well-dressed men and a horse appears to depict a racetrack or betting environment, suggesting Cleveland's political fortunes are being wagered upon like a horse race. The satire mocks Cleveland's weakening electoral support in New York, his home state, implying his reelection prospects were diminishing.