Judge — November 26, 1904 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis: Judge Magazine, November 26, 1904 This cartoon satirizes the Democratic Party's predicted defeat in the 1904 presidential election. The sign reads "The Wild and Woolly West—Excellent Duck Shooting," depicting Democratic Party figures as dead ducks being hunted by Republican gunmen in cowboy attire. The caption "A Dead-Sure Thing—The Swan Song of Democracy" suggests the cartoonist viewed Democratic prospects as hopeless. The "swan song" reference implies this represents the party's final performance before electoral collapse. The imagery conflates the American frontier ("Wild and Woolly West") with political slaughter, presenting Republican victory as inevitable and the Democratic Party as helpless prey. This reflects Republican confidence heading into Theodore Roosevelt's 1904 reelection campaign.