A complete issue · 16 pages · 1890
Judge — June 28, 1890
# Political Cartoon Analysis: "Blind!" (Judge, June 28, 1890) This satirical cartoon depicts the Democratic Party as a blind figure leading smaller figures (party members or voters) astray. The central tall figure wears a blindfold marked "BLIND" and carries a walking stick, while several caricatured men gesture in apparent confusion or distress around him. The caption reads: "WANTED—A leader for a poor old party. Apply to the DEMOCRACY, Salt river." "Salt river" was a 19th-century idiom meaning political defeat or ruin. The satire suggests the Democratic Party is directionless and unable to lead effectively, having lost its way. The smaller figures appear to represent party members or supporters frustrated by the party's lack of clear vision or leadership during this period, likely referencing post-Reconstruction political instability.
# Analysis of Judge Magazine Page 182 The central cartoon titled "ACKNOWLEDGING THE CORN" depicts a confrontation between two figures—likely a politician and a voter or constituent. The phrase "acknowledging the corn" was period slang meaning to admit guilt or confess to wrongdoing. The caption quotes one figure saying the other "ain't got no more spirit than a mouse, Jefferson" and references being "kinder ornery, Polly," suggesting a debate about character or political integrity. The cartoon satirizes political hypocrisy or evasion—a politician forced to admit to misconduct. The surrounding text columns discuss various political and social topics including monuments, prohibition, and bullying, typical of Judge's satirical commentary on contemporary American affairs.
