Judge — July 17, 1897 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Good Riddance" - Judge Magazine, July 17, 1897 This cartoon depicts **Uncle Sam** discarding a crutch, with the caption "Now I will be able to walk without that stick." The image appears to satirize the end of American dependence on some burden or constraint—likely referencing the conclusion of the **Spanish-American War** (which ended in August 1898, though this predates that). The crutch symbolizes a past limitation or foreign entanglement that Uncle Sam is rejecting. The figure's posture—leisurely seated by vegetation—suggests relief and confidence about America's future independence or strength. The satire celebrates American self-sufficiency and perhaps critiques previous hesitation or reluctance in foreign policy. Without additional context from the magazine's other content, the exact reference remains somewhat unclear, though it definitely concerns American geopolitical autonomy.