Judge — February 22, 1896 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical cartoon criticizing American foreign and domestic policy in 1896. The large figure on the left represents "Uncle Sam" (America). The cartoon depicts two separate scenes of betrayal: **Upper section**: The U.S. minister to England is shown "petting the British lion"—suggesting excessive diplomatic deference to Britain. **Lower section**: Wall Street figures (depicted in top hats) are robbing Uncle Sam, representing financial exploitation of American interests for private profit. The cartoon's central complaint is that America's leadership class is simultaneously appeasing foreign powers while allowing wealthy domestic speculators to exploit the nation's resources. The caption reinforces this dual betrayal, suggesting both diplomatic weakness and internal corruption during the 1896 election period.