The arrest of "Boss Tweed"-another good joke.
The Shadow of Justice. "I'll make some of you cry yet."
"Sheriff Brennan merely nodded to Mr. Tweed, bade him 'Good-day,
" and laying his hand tenderly on his shoulder, said laughingly, You're
my man!' It seemed like a deliciously cool joke, and judging from the faces, it was. -New York Tribune."
In a paragraph, interpret the message of this Thomas Nast political cartoon, which shows Boss Tweed laughing as he is being arrested while the Shadow of Justice looks on. Be sure to read the captions carefully and consider what each character in the cartoon might represent. In particular, what is suggested by the words of Sheriff Brennan and the Shadow of Justice?
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This Thomas Nast political cartoon portrays the arrest of Boss Tweed, a corrupt politician, in a humorous light. The cartoon's message is that justice is finally catching up with Tweed and his powers of corruption. The image of Tweed laughing while being arrested suggests his arrogance and disbelief that he is being held accountable for his actions. The words of Sheriff Brennan, "You're my man!", and his gesture of laying his hand on Tweed's shoulder, imply that he is capturing Tweed and confirming his guilt. This suggests that law enforcement is finally taking action against corruption. The Shadow of Justice, watching over the scene, represents the concept that justice prevails even in the face of powerful individuals like Tweed. The caption, "I'll make some of you cry yet," indicates that justice will continue to prevail and hold corrupt politicians accountable for their actions. Overall, the cartoon celebrates the arrest of Boss Tweed and implies that the era of corruption is coming to an end.
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