A complete issue · 16 pages · 1889
Judge — August 17, 1889
# Political Cartoon Analysis: "Making an Ass of the Public" (Judge, August 17, 1889) This satirical cartoon criticizes corruption in horse racing at the Humbug Racing Association. The central figure appears to be a judge or official, with a sign listing corrupt practices: horses being "pulled, dosed, crippled and fouled" and jockeys "bribed" to "cheat the public." The donkey-headed figure on the left represents the public being made foolish ("ass"). The caption's subtitle states "With these elements uppermost, racing will cease to be a sport"—meaning that when corruption dominates, the sport loses legitimacy. The scattered papers and betting slips on the ground reinforce the theme of fraud. The cartoon satirizes how racing authorities tolerate systematic cheating that victimizes bettors and undermines the sport's integrity.
# Analysis of Judge Magazine Page 298 This page contains satirical commentary on early 20th-century politics and social issues rather than a single unified cartoon. The main illustration labeled "HARROWING" depicts what appears to be immigration or labor-related officials confronting working-class figures, likely satirizing bureaucratic treatment of immigrants or workers. The text sections mock various public figures and policies: a sheriff's ignorance of law, a contemporary figure's (possibly Tennyson's) overrated importance, and Governor Lowry of Mississippi's approach to crime prevention. A substantial section criticizes weak foreign policy regarding the Bering Sea and fishing rights disputes between the United States, Canada, and Russia—suggesting American timidity in defending national interests. The "Betsey and I" section satirizes hasty marriages among the wealthy, implying such unions prioritize fortune over genuine compatibility.
