Judge — January 24, 1891 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis: "Blaine, the British Lion, and the Behring Sea" This 1891 *Judge* cartoon depicts a diplomatic dispute over the Bering Sea. The figure on the left, identified as Blaine (James G. Blaine, U.S. Secretary of State), confronts a British Lion playing a stringed instrument. The caption reads: "You may Roar, but you must Dance." The cartoon satirizes American pressure on Britain regarding seal hunting rights in the Bering Sea—a contested territorial issue. Blaine is portrayed as forcing British compliance through aggressive diplomacy ("must Dance"), while the Lion, though powerful ("may Roar"), is depicted as subordinate to American demands. The British flag visible above emphasizes the international nature of the conflict. The satire celebrates American assertiveness in foreign policy.