Judge — March 28, 1885 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes Whitney's proposed foreign policy approach. A figure labeled Whitney stands in what appears to be an official setting, proposing to photograph the American Navy and distribute these images to European powers as a diplomatic strategy. The satire mocks this as an absurdly naive approach to international relations—suggesting that mere photographs of naval vessels could serve as effective deterrence or diplomacy. The cartoon implies the policy lacks substance, treating photographic propaganda as a substitute for actual military or diplomatic strength. The setting shows various official documents and architectural elements, emphasizing the formal governmental context. This appears to critique what the magazine viewed as a weak or ridiculous approach to maintaining America's position in foreign affairs during a period when naval power was a key component of geopolitical influence.