Judge — April 21, 1888 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes immigration to America using a biblical parallel. The figure on the right labeled "Moses (Uncle Sam)" represents America itself, dressed as the biblical Moses. The left figure appears to be "Pharaoh," likely representing a foreign power or restrictive trade regime. The title references an "exodus" of immigrants reaching America in enormous numbers. The cartoon's ironic framing—comparing American immigration policy to Moses leading people to freedom—suggests tension over immigration levels. The reference to "free trade" indicates this critiques either protectionist policies driving emigration or anxieties about unrestricted immigration. The biblical allusion inverts the Exodus narrative: rather than escape from oppression, this depicts mass arrival that contemporaries may have viewed as problematic or overwhelming.