Judge — July 24, 1897 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This *Judge* magazine cover from July 24, 1897 depicts Uncle Sam standing over a dead snake labeled "The Silver Snake." The caption reads: "It is only the tail that is moving, but that will cease when the sun goes down." This cartoon references the monetary debate of the 1890s—specifically the conflict between advocates of free silver (unlimited coinage of silver) and supporters of the gold standard. The "silver snake" represents the free-silver movement, which had gained political momentum. The cartoon suggests Uncle Sam has defeated this threat, though it implies some "death throes" remain (the moving tail). The sunset symbolizes the final end of silver's political threat, likely alluding to the recent 1896 election where gold-standard candidate William McKinley defeated free-silver advocate William Jennings Bryan.