Judge — June 4, 1898 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This 1898 *Judge* cartoon depicts an American flag with radiating sunburst stripes illuminating a landscape below. The image appears to be political allegory about American expansion or intervention—likely related to the Spanish-American War (1898) or American imperialism of that era. The dramatic lighting effect suggests dawn or awakening, with the flag's rays spreading outward like a rising sun. Small flags or structures visible in the middle distance possibly represent newly acquired or influenced territories. The incomplete title "The Sunrise of M[...]" suggests this celebrates American power or influence spreading to new regions (possibly the Philippines, Cuba, or other Spanish colonies acquired in 1898). The optimistic imagery frames American expansion as enlightenment or progress—a common imperialist justification of the period.