Judge, 1898-12-10 · page 1 of 16
Judge — December 10, 1898 — page 1: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Political Cartoon Analysis: Judge Magazine, December 10, 1898 This cartoon satirizes William Jennings Bryan and the Free Silver political movement. The collapsing bridge labeled "FREE SILVER ROAD TO CONGRESS" represents the failure of Bryan's 1896 presidential campaign and his silver-backed currency platform. The figure depicted is Bryan with his "political wife and mother"—likely referencing his close relationship with his mother and his wife's political influence. They're falling through the broken bridge into water marked "DEFEAT." The verse parodies "Mother Goose" to mock Bryan's loss and the collapse of the Free Silver movement as a viable political platform. The grotesque artistic style emphasizes the cartoon's contemptuous tone toward Bryan's political ambitions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VOL. 35 NO.895 DECEMBER 10 1898 PRICE 10 CENTS Emreneo a1 rHe Pear urmee aT Mew Yous as Secono Cass MATTER. Coprmemr 1898 ey Aneus Avauianine Commny, Tile Reomrenes ae a Taane Mann <OPMMIONTIGDB BY ARKELL PUBLISHING COMPANY OF NEW YORK. Sackett Wiheims itho 8 Pit Co Rew York. Bryan (O'Lin), his political wife and mother, They all went over the bridge together ; The bridge was broken and they all fell in— “It's fine silver weather!” says Bryan (O’Lin.) (Mother Goose, slightly altéred.) comicbooks.com