Judge — March 17, 1894 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Kilkenny Cats" - Judge, March 17, 1894 This political cartoon references the famous Irish legend of the Kilkenny Cats—two cats that fought until only their tails remained. The image shows cats labeled with "Wilson" and "Bill" suspended between two poles, while a figure labeled "Democrats" watches from the right and another figure (likely representing "Republicans" or political opponents) observes from the left near water. The satire suggests that Democratic factions fighting over the Wilson Bill (tariff legislation debated in Congress) were destroying themselves through internal conflict, similar to the self-destructive cats. The caption jokes that this political fighting provided "great fun for Grover"—President Grover Cleveland—who could benefit while Democrats weakened each other.