Judge — August 15, 1896 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This 1896 *Judge* magazine cartoon depicts a disheveled figure holding a sword labeled "SEDITION" while wearing a blindfold and tattered clothing. A visible placard reads "DOWN WITH THE COURTS" — suggesting the figure represents radical elements opposing the judicial system. The cartoon appears to satirize anarchist or revolutionary movements that threatened American institutions in the 1890s, a period marked by labor unrest, bombings, and anti-government violence. The blindfold suggests these radicals act without reason or understanding, while the worn appearance emphasizes their marginalization. The sword labeled "sedition" directly references seditious conspiracy — the legal charge against those attacking government authority. The overall message warns against lawlessness and attacks on established legal institutions, positioning such movements as destructive and irrational.