Judge — May 2, 1896 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Judge Magazine, May 2, 1896: "Racing Season of '96" This political cartoon satirizes the 1896 U.S. presidential race. The caption asks "Can they get a race out of the old nag?" suggesting the Democratic Party (represented by the tired horse) faces difficulties in the upcoming election. Three figures in caricatured style (appearing to represent Democratic political figures or factions) cluster around the exhausted horse with various tools and bottles—possibly depicting attempts to revive or stimulate the party's prospects through different remedies or strategies. The "Democratic Stables" sign and racing setting serve as extended metaphor: the Democratic candidate and party are like worn-out racehorses unlikely to win the 1896 election. The satire mocks the party's apparent weakness and internal division heading into that year's presidential campaign.