The goose that lays the golden eggs
Cover of Judge, 8 September 1888. A man labelled "Democratic politician" with "Mills" on his pocket offers a knife marked "Free trade, English make" to a seated workingman holding eggs marked good wages, good home, clothing and prosperity, beside a goose labelled "Protection"; the caption has him say, "Kill the goose and get all your eggs at once." A boxed text above argues that free trade would lower wages. The harm is staged as imminent and the offered protection is the tariff (fear-appeal). The cartoon argues the Republican position and is grouped on that side.
- Date
- September 8, 1888
- Period
- Pre-1914
- Made by
- Bernhard Gillam (artist; lithograph per LOC); Judge Publishing Co., New York
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Cartoon
- Issuer type
- Media
- Regime
- Cleveland Administration
- Leader
- Grover Cleveland
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Persuade or win support
- Event
- 1888 US Election
- Techniques
- Fear appeal
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- Library of Congress, retrieved October 2, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain by age (published 1888); LOC rights advisory: No known restrictions on publication
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C.
Text on the object
Judge / VOL. 14 NO. 360 / SEPTEMBER 8 1888 / PRICE 10 CENTS. / FREE TRADE WOULD MAKE GOODS CHEAPER, BUT IT WOULD LOWER THE AMERICAN WORKMAN'S WAGES SO MUCH THAT HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO PURCHASE THEM. / [on the knife] FREE TRADE ENGLISH MAKE / [on the pocket] MILLS / [on the eggs] GOOD LIVING, PROSPERITY, CLOTHING, GOOD WAGES, GOOD HOME / [on the goose] PROTECTION / THE GOOSE THAT LAYS THE GOLDEN EGGS. / DEMOCRATIC POLITICIAN (to Workingman)--"Kill the Goose and get all your Eggs at once." / GILLAM
Masthead and copyright line abbreviated.
