Judge — October 17, 1885 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon expresses anti-immigration sentiment targeting foreign workers. The image depicts what appears to be immigrant laborers as an obstacle blocking the path of American workers (shown as native-born citizens). The "barricade" metaphor suggests immigrants are literally blocking economic opportunity and employment for Americans. This reflects early 20th-century nativist concerns—the belief that foreign workers undercut wages and jobs for citizens by accepting lower pay. The cartoon advocates for immigration restriction, a major political issue of the era. The caricatured foreign figures (their exaggerated features suggest ethnic stereotyping) are portrayed as a hostile force rather than individuals seeking opportunity. This represents the protectionist labor sentiment that would eventually influence restrictive immigration legislation.