Judge — December 27, 1902 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Judge cartoon satirizes the 1901 Democratic National Convention through an anthropomorphic animal allegory. A donkey (the Democratic Party symbol) sits inside a home while another donkey stands outside in the rain, pleading for readmission. The interior donkey represents the party establishment, while the exterior figure likely represents a faction or candidate shut out from nomination proceedings. The banner reading "DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR 1901" confirms the political context. The cartoon mocks Democratic Party division and exclusion tactics—suggesting the party is rejecting its own members or factions. The accompanying song lyrics emphasize the shame of this internal discord, with the rejected figure crying outside while the party establishment refuses entry. The satire criticizes Democratic infighting and suggests hypocrisy: the party mascot literally rejecting another donkey highlights internal fracturing and loss of unity heading into the election cycle.