Judge — September 4, 1897 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Judge magazine cartoon satirizes American protectionist trade policy. Uncle Sam, identifiable by his top hat and starred clothing, sits playing a banjo labeled "Protection" while singing about tariffs. The "Protection Door" behind him represents government trade barriers. The cartoon's central joke appears in the sign: "What is Home Without Protection?" — sarcastically suggesting that protective tariffs are as essential to American homes as the door itself. Uncle Sam's deliberate, self-satisfied performance mocks the enthusiastic promotion of protectionist economic policies. The satire likely critiques how political leaders promote tariffs as economically beneficial, when the cartoon suggests such policies are ultimately hollow or self-defeating. The musical performance frames protection advocates as tone-deaf performers rather than serious economists.