Judge, 1896-05-09 · page 3 of 18
Judge — May 9, 1896 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Political Cartoon Analysis: "Judge" Magazine This cartoon satirizes opposition to **free trade** policy. Uncle Sam (representing the United States) appears exhausted, struggling with a large sphere labeled "FREE TRADE." A demonic figure wielding a "PROTECTION" sword attacks from the left, while several men in a window above (likely representing protectionist politicians or industrialists) look on. The caption—"Oh, say! It's dead easy"—is sarcastic, suggesting that dismantling free trade is supposedly simple. The cartoon reflects late 19th-century American political divisions between **free-trade advocates** (represented by Uncle Sam) and **protectionists** (the attacking demon), who supported tariffs to shield domestic industries. The Capitol dome in the background emphasizes this is a national policy debate.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
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