comicbooks.com Join Free

A complete, restored issue of Judge from 1885-04-25 — all 16 pages of color political cartoons and topical humor, free to page through at comicbooks.com.

On the cover: # An Ominous Outlook (April 25, 1885) This political cartoon depicts an American Eagle wearing a top hat labeled "ARMY," appearing wounded and unable to function. The bird stands amid scattered debris labeled "DEMOCRATIC," "SURPLUS," and other items in a harbor setting with ships. The caption states: "I can Neither Fight nor Fly." The satire criticizes the Democratic Party's military and fiscal policies in 1885 (early in Cleveland's presidency). The disabled eagle suggests America's military weakness and ineffectiveness under Democratic governance. References to "surplus" likely critique Democratic handling of treasury funds. The cartoon warns readers that Democratic policies have rendered the nation unable to defend itself—unable to "fight" militarily or "fly" (progress economically or diplomatically). This represents typical partisan criticism of the opposing party's competence.

🖼️ Every page has a plain-English note on what you’re looking at — the figures, the references, the point of the satire.

← Back to Judge: The Rival in Color All exhibitions

A complete issue · 16 pages · 1885

Judge — April 25, 1885

1885-04-25 · Free to read

Judge — April 25, 1885 — page 1
1 / 16
What you’re looking at · open this page on its own ↗

# An Ominous Outlook (April 25, 1885) This political cartoon depicts an American Eagle wearing a top hat labeled "ARMY," appearing wounded and unable to function. The bird stands amid scattered debris labeled "DEMOCRATIC," "SURPLUS," and other items in a harbor setting with ships. The caption states: "I can Neither Fight nor Fly." The satire criticizes the Democratic Party's military and fiscal policies in 1885 (early in Cleveland's presidency). The disabled eagle suggests America's military weakness and ineffectiveness under Democratic governance. References to "surplus" likely critique Democratic handling of treasury funds. The cartoon warns readers that Democratic policies have rendered the nation unable to defend itself—unable to "fight" militarily or "fly" (progress economically or diplomatically). This represents typical partisan criticism of the opposing party's competence.

Judge — April 25, 1885 — page 2
2 / 16
Judge — April 25, 1885 — page 3
3 / 16
Judge — April 25, 1885 — page 4
4 / 16
Judge — April 25, 1885 — page 5
5 / 16
Judge — April 25, 1885 — page 6
6 / 16
Judge — April 25, 1885 — page 7
7 / 16
Judge — April 25, 1885 — page 8
8 / 16
Judge — April 25, 1885 — page 9
9 / 16
Judge — April 25, 1885 — page 10
10 / 16
Judge — April 25, 1885 — page 11
11 / 16
Judge — April 25, 1885 — page 12
12 / 16
Judge — April 25, 1885 — page 13
13 / 16
Judge — April 25, 1885 — page 14
14 / 16
Judge — April 25, 1885 — page 15
15 / 16
Judge — April 25, 1885 — page 16
16 / 16

Browse this issue page by page

Each page has its own page — the cartoon, who’s in it, and what the satire means.

  1. Page 1 # An Ominous Outlook (April 25, 1885) This political cartoon depicts an American Eagle wearing a top hat labeled "ARMY," appearing wounded and unable to functio…
  2. Page 2 View this page →
  3. Page 3 View this page →
  4. Page 4 View this page →
  5. Page 5 View this page →
  6. Page 6 View this page →
  7. Page 7 View this page →
  8. Page 8 View this page →
  9. Page 9 View this page →
  10. Page 10 View this page →
  11. Page 11 View this page →
  12. Page 12 View this page →
  13. Page 13 View this page →
  14. Page 14 View this page →
  15. Page 15 View this page →
  16. Page 16 View this page →