Judge — April 9, 1904 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon from *Judge* magazine depicts Theodore Roosevelt as a demonic, menacing figure on horseback, firing a gun while trampling smaller caricatured figures beneath him. The smaller figures appear to represent Roosevelt's political opponents or critics, labeled to identify specific groups. The cartoon is a meta-commentary: it claims to show "how demagogues paint" Roosevelt—essentially arguing that his opponents exaggerate and demonize him unfairly. By presenting this grotesque caricature with ironic framing, the cartoonist defends Roosevelt against what he considers unfair political attacks. The satire targets Roosevelt's critics rather than Roosevelt himself, suggesting their depictions of him are hyperbolic propaganda rather than accurate representation.