Judge — August 8, 1896 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Judge magazine cartoon depicts a confrontation between "Anarchy" (a demonic winged figure on the left, wielding a club labeled "Ruin") and representatives of "Capital" (a flag-bearing figure). Below them, a group of well-dressed men—appearing to represent business interests, bankers, or the establishment—cower or crouch defensively on the ground. The cartoon's message, reinforced by the caption "Anarchist fanatics will not be allowed to prevail," presents a pro-establishment stance. It frames anarchism as a threatening, destructive force that Capital and organized society must resist. This likely reflects early-20th-century American anxieties about anarchist movements, which were associated with labor unrest, bombings, and radical political activity. The cartoon uses visual propaganda to reassure readers that established power structures will defeat revolutionary threats.