Judge — March 5, 1887 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes American immigration policy, specifically criticizing inconsistent protectionism. The sign visible in the image reads "NUMBER OF MIGRANTS IN 56 YEARS 1831-86 INCLUSIVE: 5,309,886!!" The cartoon depicts European immigrants arriving at what appears to be a port or entry point, with period buildings and a sailing ship visible. The caption's text suggests the U.S. claimed to protect American workers against "European Pauper Labor" through trade restrictions, yet simultaneously allowed massive immigration of poor European workers to enter the country. The satire points out this contradiction: protective tariffs meant to shield American workers rang hollow when the country simultaneously accepted hundreds of thousands of impoverished foreign laborers willing to work for lower wages. The policy was therefore "half-hearted"—inconsistent and ineffective at its stated goal.