Judge — June 1, 1895 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Patriotism at a Discount" This June 1895 *Judge* cartoon satirizes Admiral George Dewey's resignation threat over the Cleveland administration. The titled "Patriotism at a Discount" shows three figures: a military officer (likely Dewey) in dress uniform confronting a civilian statesman, while a lion statue and distant warship suggest naval power. The quoted text attributes to "Admiral Meade" (likely referencing Dewey or similar naval figure) expressing willingness to resign over disagreements with the current administration's policies. The satire suggests the admiral is treating patriotic service as negotiable—hence "at a discount"—conditional upon political concessions rather than unconditional duty. The cartoon criticizes using military authority as leverage in civilian political disputes, mocking the notion of patriotism as transactional.