Judge — September 14, 1895 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Judge Magazine Cover, September 14, 1895 This political cartoon satirizes the third term of Cleveland's presidency and rising national debt. The large sailing ship represents the government, its sail emblazoned with "INCREASE IN NATIONAL DEBT IN TWO YEARS: 302,503,582" and labeled with "BOND" and "BOND ISSUE." The vessel, named "ROYERIE III" (appearing to reference royalty or aristocratic excess), is sinking or struggling despite its tattered sail. Sailors in the boat below appear distressed, watching the ship's deterioration. The caption—"The sail is rotten and the boom weak, but she'll make people talk!"—attributes this to Carlisle (likely Treasury Secretary John G. Carlisle), suggesting the administration's policies were damaging the economy while generating only talk rather than solutions.