Judge — February 13, 1926 — page 14: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon references the famous quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln: "You can fool some of the people all of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time." The cartoon inverts Lincoln's optimistic message into cynical social commentary. A monument-sized statue of what appears to be a public figure sits elevated on a pedestal labeled "PROHIBITION" and "PATRIOTISM." Below, various ordinary citizens—depicted as gullible—appear to revere or accept this monument uncritically. The satire suggests that despite noble ideals (represented by the statue and patriotic labels), the public can be systematically deceived about major policies or figures. The cartoon criticizes how propaganda or public relations can convince citizens to support questionable initiatives, even when those initiatives may not serve their actual interests.