Judge — May 18, 1895 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Parting of the Roads" This May 1895 cartoon satirizes Republican Party divisions over which direction to take toward the White House. The signpost shows "SILVER ROAD" and "GOLD ROAD," referencing the intense monetary policy debate splitting Republicans at that time—whether to support free silver coinage or maintain the gold standard. The caricatured figures appear to be Republican leaders at a crossroads, uncertain which path to follow. The caption's question—"Which road leads to the White House?"—suggests the party was fractured and confused about its political strategy heading toward the 1896 presidential election. This reflects the real historical split between Republican factions over monetary policy that dominated late-1890s American politics.