Judge — June 26, 1897 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a political cartoon titled "Road to Prosperity" showing a figure (likely representing the U.S. economy or a political leader) trapped in a narrow canyon or crevasse, weighed down by large boulders labeled with various economic obstacles and government restrictions. Above, a distant cityscape represents prosperity, radiating light. The caption suggests that removing "all obstructions" will enable progress toward prosperity—implying the cartoonist advocates for deregulation or reduced government intervention in the economy. The "Road to Prosperity" theme and emphasis on removing bureaucratic obstacles suggest this likely dates to the post-WWI or 1920s era, when laissez-faire economic arguments were prominent in American political discourse. The satire critiques what the artist views as excessive governmental or administrative burdens hindering economic growth.