Judge — September 11, 1897 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Getting There With Both Feet" This September 1897 *Judge* cartoon depicts Liberty (recognizable by her classical female form and flowing garments) standing triumphantly above a map of the United States. The phrase "Getting there with both feet" suggests energetic, decisive progress. The satire likely comments on American expansionism or domestic political achievement during the 1890s—a period of imperial ambitions and economic dynamism. Liberty's confident pose, wind-swept hair, and commanding stance over the national map suggest optimism about American direction and power. Without additional context about specific 1897 events, the exact referent remains unclear, but the cartoon evidently celebrates American progress or vindication of a particular political agenda through Liberty as the personified ideal.