Judge — March 19, 1898 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical cartoon about American patriotism and military preparedness. A large artillery piece labeled "PATRIOTISM" is being aimed by a figure at what appears to be a military target or enemy position ("CUBA" is visible on a sign). The cannon is "loaded," as the caption states—suggesting patriotic sentiment is being weaponized or mobilized for military action. The American flag flies prominently above, and military vessels appear in the water below. The cartoon satirizes how patriotic rhetoric can be deployed to justify military intervention or warfare. The loaded cannon metaphor suggests that patriotism is being used as a tool of aggression rather than defense. The specific reference to Cuba indicates this likely concerns American military policy toward Cuba, possibly related to the Spanish-American War era or subsequent interventions, though the exact historical moment remains unclear from the image alone.