A complete issue · 16 pages · 1890
Judge — January 4, 1890
# Political Cartoon Analysis: "All Things Good Come to Those Who Wait" This January 1890 *Judge* cartoon depicts two Egyptian sphinx statues seated by the Nile, with a heron in the foreground. The caption quotes Grover Cleveland's December 1889 speech at a Boston merchants' banquet, with Dave Hill (likely a contemporary political figure) responding "I am waiting too, Grover!" The satire targets Cleveland's political position during a period of waiting or inaction—possibly regarding tariff policy, currency issues, or other divisive matters of his second administration (1893-1897). The sphinx imagery suggests Cleveland's enigmatic or passive stance on pressing national issues. The cartoon implies that critics like Hill are also "waiting" to see if Cleveland will take decisive action, with the eternal sphinx as a symbol of patient but ultimately immobile waiting.
# Analysis of Judge Page 204 The main cartoon, titled "WHY WE ARE PLEASED," depicts a figure labeled "Judge" conversing with what appears to be a political opponent. The accompanying text suggests this relates to Democratic Party politics and recent electoral defeats. The article "FREE-TRADE CREDULITY" satirizes Democratic support for free-trade policies, suggesting Democrats were naively seduced by false economic promises. The text mocks the party's belief that free trade would benefit them, comparing it to selling a "golden egg" for cheap. Additional items mock Cleveland administration policies and Democratic leadership, including criticism of Cleveland's civil-service reform efforts. The overall page presents satirical political commentary typical of Judge magazine's Republican-leaning editorial stance during the Gilded Age.
