A complete issue · 16 pages · 1885
Judge — January 17, 1885
# The Judge, January 17, 1885 This political cartoon titled "To Thee I Cling" depicts an elderly man clinging to a rock amid turbulent waves labeled "Scylla" and "Charybdis"—references to the mythological dangers from Homer's *Odyssey*. The figure appears to represent a politician or public figure navigating dangerous political waters between two opposing forces. The man holds what appears to be a salary document, suggesting economic concerns amid political turmoil. The cartoon likely comments on a contemporary political crisis or scandal from 1885, where someone was caught between competing pressures or factions. Without identifying the specific historical event, the satire uses classical mythology to suggest an impossible situation where safety is elusive regardless of which danger one avoids.
# Analysis of This Judge Magazine Page The main cartoon (top left) shows a caricatured figure—likely a Democratic politician or partisan—eagerly eyeing spoils of office after the 1884 election of Grover Cleveland. **Key satire targets:** The editorial "After the Ducats" attacks Democrats' hunger for government jobs and patronage following Cleveland's victory. It references George William Curtis (a Republican mugwump who switched to support Cleveland) and compares hungry Democrats to "a pack of wolves" raiding the Treasury—evoking their 1861 predecessor raid. The piece mocks Democratic desperation: with limited office positions available, they might resort to padding Confederate pension rolls just to feed their supporters. It warns readers to watch Treasury spending closely. **Historical context:** This reflects the spoils system era, where winning parties distributed federal jobs as political rewards. The "out-of-town correspondent" section suggests Judge relied on provincial gossip-reporting typical of 1880s periodicals. The overall message: Democrats are power-hungry parasites waiting to plunder government resources.
