Contemporary public opinion of Boss Tweed is scattered and ambiguous at best, but the political cartoons confirm several of Steffens' affirmations about questions of honesty and the relationship between Tammany and New York voters.

These cartoons demonstrate public consciousness of both Tweed and Tammany's corruption, but the humorous treatment and offhanded style suggest a comic tolerance, especially by the lower classes, who found little harm or gain in political struggles. Each cartoon can be read as both dismissive and concerned, an interesting contrat that again suggests the irrelevence of politics and corruption in the everyday lives of immigrants.

Nevertheless, the cartoons provide an additional dimension of texture to an understanding of New York's contemporary political situation. Consistently portraying Tweed and Tammany as corrupt and exploitative, the cartoons address the same problems Steffens finds in Tammany politics, as well as the overt and public nature of their "honest dishonesty" policy.