Puck — October 29, 1879 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Puck Page 536 This page contains a political article titled **"The 'Independent Voter' as a Factor in Politics"** rather than a cartoon. The piece argues that independent voters—those refusing party allegiance—represent authentic American citizenship and moral authority. The article criticizes party loyalty, suggesting voters should evaluate candidates individually rather than follow party leaders blindly. It references a specific election context involving candidates named **Kelly, Robinson, and Cornell**, advocating that independent voters could decisively influence outcomes. The satire targets partisan machine politics and voter manipulation, promoting the radical (for the 1880s-1890s era) idea that voters should think critically rather than accept party dictates. The tone suggests this independent voter movement posed a genuine political threat to established party structures.