Judge — September 24, 1898 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Judge Magazine Cover, September 24, 1898 This is a political cartoon satirizing Admiral George Dewey, the American naval commander who famously defeated the Spanish fleet at Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War (1898). The caricature shows Dewey as a swaggering military figure wearing a colonial/tropical helmet, positioned prominently above scenes of American naval vessels and Philippine architecture. The caption "While Dewey is on Guard / Every American knows that ALL IS WELL in the Philippines" is ironic satire. Judge is mocking American confidence in Dewey's military control of the newly-acquired Philippines, suggesting this confidence may be misplaced. The cartoon critiques American imperial expansion and the assumption that military dominance ensures stability in occupied territories.