Judge, 1885-03-07 · page 12 of 22
Judge — March 7, 1885 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This six-panel comic depicts Uncle Sam (personified America) as a military aggressor. He spots a desirable village, spreads his forces to surround it, but is thwarted when "unexpected acquaintances" (likely representing foreign powers or rival nations) appear in a protective circle. They reconcile through friendly gestures, allowing Uncle Sam to withdraw while claiming victory and "spoils." The satire critiques American imperial tactics—aggressive expansion masked as peaceful diplomacy. The "unexpected acquaintances" likely represent European powers or established interests who constrain American ambitions through international pressure rather than direct conflict. The accompanying articles criticize Philadelphia's corrupt school board appointments made through political patronage rather than merit, and mock Democrats' anxiety over losing patronage jobs under a new administration—comparing political spoils to Uncle Sam's military conquest.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE JUDGE. 5. BLUNDERS UPON JUST SUCH A VILLAGE AS TE WAS LOOKING FOR 6. IMMEDIATELY SPREADS HIMSFLY IN ORDER TO SURKOUND (7, UNCLE SAM'S TACTICS. 7. BUT 18 FOILED BY UNEXPECTED APPEARANCE OF A LARGE CIRCLE OP UNEXPECTED ACQUAIN- TANCES 8. wito conv TENTIONS BY * F WIM OP “THEIR FRIENDLY IN- RYING” THE HATCHET, 9. AND KINDLY BRANCE. Laer IS HAI IN REMEM= 10, LEAVING 11M IN QUIFT POSSESSION oF THE FIELD. TO THE VICTORS BELONG THE SPOIL, The School System of Philadelphia. | Wues friends have sufficiently feasted their eyes on the sumptuous Inaugural Ball of Cleveland as depicted on the large supple- plement that accompanies this issue, let | them reverse the medal—turn the big sup- | plement over, and take a glance at the prac- tical workings of a political school system as | scomplifed in our sister city of Philadel- ia, Povtr. Tim Rooster, the pot-house member of the schoolboard, presents a phase of Phil- adelphia education which will doubtless shock educators, but even he is not the worst outcome of euch a system—for there is a depth below him, of which decency forbids more than the merest mention. Considering the reputation that the city of Philadelphia has borne for benevolent insti- tutions, the prominent standing of her bar, and much besides that has distinguished that city, we regard this feature of the ad- ministration of such a department as one of those anomalies that occasionally occur in human affairs. It appears as though the | fandamental purpose of education was en- tirely lost sight of, and, instead, a system | positively demoralizing substituted. A recognition of education as a develop- ment of character by all possible proper | surroundings of youth, would make tuck thing impossible; and a knowledge that the conduct of schools is a specialty, would make it apparent that the selec- tion of these guardians of education could not be properly made in an ordinary delegate ; convention, It would only be going one) step further in the direction of an entire | oblivion of anything like a proper manage- ment of the schools, to permit the teachers | to be selected by the same agency. We are | not informed that our neighbors choose their military administration in this way, and it is only'a greater error to permit a school de- | partment to be governed by politics and | nominating conventions. New York, with all its commercial whirl, and immense transient population, has had the wisdom to preserve its future, by taking | every precaution to protect the instruction | of its youth. It has taken the school depart- | ment as nearly out of politics as it is possible | to do, its central board being appointed, and | school system; and we can only believe that the local trustees or school visitors are ap- pointed by that board. Philadelphia, with its large resident popu- lation, and traditions, should have a model for some unforseen reason the present shock- ing system has been allowed to exist, having originated years ago when the community was small and such a system could be better administered. The Reason Why. “On! pa, look what pretty door-knobs!” “Those are not door-knobs, my son; they are gentleman's eyes.” «What funny eyes! What makes the poor gentleman's eyes stick out like door-knobs, a2” “He is a Democrat, my son, and has heard that there will be no change of postmasters.” —Newman Independent. Is there any case on record where a cow- boy used a revolver without “ flourishing” it?—Boston Globe. comicbooks.com