Judge — July 7, 1894 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Judge magazine cartoon satirizes foreign influence threatening American sovereignty. The Capitol building flies the American flag while various foreign flags (appearing to include Swiss and others) surround it, held by caricatured figures representing foreign interests or immigrants. The sign references an executive order dated July 4, 1894, prohibiting foreign flags on public buildings—likely a response to perceived foreign infiltration of American institutions during the 1890s. The caption "Let U.S. Have Another Declaration" suggests the cartoonist believes America needs a new declaration of independence to reassert sovereignty against foreign influence. The bottom figure appears distressed, implying concern about American identity being compromised. This reflects late-19th-century nativist anxieties about immigration and foreign control, common themes in Judge during this period.