Judge — August 20, 1898 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Judge magazine cartoon satirizes American imperialism regarding the Philippines. The central female figure represents the United States (likely Columbia or Lady Liberty), protectively holding the Philippine Islands, symbolized by the palm trees labeled "HAWAII." Military and political figures surround her—including what appears to be a uniformed official on the left. The caption "MANILA SHALL NEVER COME DOWN" references America's determination to maintain control of Manila and the Philippines following the Spanish-American War (1898). The cartoon mocks American expansionist rhetoric, portraying the U.S. as possessively clutching overseas territories like a mother protecting children, while simultaneously criticizing this imperial ambition. The satirical tone suggests Judge's skepticism toward American colonial aspirations in the Pacific.