Judge — June 12, 1897 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Judge cartoon satirizes American foreign policy toward Latin America. The central figure is Uncle Sam (representing the U.S. government), depicted as a vulture with a curved beak and rifle, standing over a fallen "United States" figure lying in water. Two businessmen with money bags labeled with text (likely referencing American commercial interests) appear to be "picking" at America's resources or reputation. The title "GOLD LEAVES U.S" combined with dialogue about "excellent picking" suggests the cartoon critiques how foreign interventions and exploitative policies drain American wealth and prosperity. The vulture imagery implies predatory behavior, while the fallen U.S. figure suggests the nation itself suffers from these interventionist practices. This appears to be anti-imperialist commentary from Judge's editorial perspective.