Judge — November 25, 1899 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis: "1893—OH, WHAT A DIFFERENT THANKSGIVING!—1899" This *Judge* magazine cover compares Thanksgiving dinners under different Democratic and Republican administrations. The caption indicates this satirizes the last Thanksgiving dinner served during the Democratic administration (likely referencing President Grover Cleveland's administration, which ended in 1897). The imagery shows a stark contrast: a well-fed figure on the left representing Republican prosperity versus what appears to be hardship or scarcity associated with Democratic rule. The overflowing cornucopia and scattered financial documents suggest economic debates of the 1890s. The cartoon reflects the severe economic depression of 1893-1897 under Cleveland, which Republicans blamed on Democratic policies. By 1899, under Republican President McKinley, the magazine suggests improved economic conditions and better "times."