A complete, restored issue of Judge from 1889-02-23 — all 18 pages of color political cartoons and topical humor, free to page through at comicbooks.com.

On the cover: # Political Cartoon Analysis: "The Outgoing and the Incoming Secretary of State" This February 1889 Judge cartoon depicts a transition between Secretaries of State. The caption attributes a quote to Bismarck (the German Chancellor, shown left in jester's costume with elaborate headpiece) asking whether the incoming secretary can be made "a fool of." The cartoon satirizes concerns about American diplomatic competence during a presidential transition. The figure on the right, dressed formally with military elements, represents the incoming Secretary of State. The jester's costume for Bismarck suggests foreign powers view American leadership as foolish or easily manipulated. The artistic contrast—Bismarck as a mocking jester versus the incoming official's formal bearing—emphasizes American vulnerability in international relations during this period of transition.

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

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