Judge — October 13, 1888 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts **John Bull** (personification of Britain) being whipped by a figure labeled "South," referencing the American Civil War's outbreak. The satire suggests Britain opportunistically seeks revenge for past American conflicts—the **Revolutionary War (1776)** and **War of 1812**—by supporting the Confederate South. The smaller inset cartoon (top right, dated 1861) shows figures celebrating or marching, likely representing Confederate supporters or British interventionists. The larger main image's grotesque imagery emphasizes Judge magazine's anti-British, pro-Union stance. The cartoon warns that Britain's potential support for Southern secession represents cynical revenge-seeking rather than principled foreign policy. The "lash" symbolizes the violence of the war itself, positioning Britain as complicit in American bloodshed.