Judge — November 12, 1898 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts "Uncle Sam" (the large figure on the left, identifiable by his characteristic striped pants and boot) kicking a spherical object labeled with a face toward a goal post. The goal post is marked "SPAIN," and figures on the far side appear to be Spanish representatives or soldiers. The caption reads "Uncle Sam kicks a goal," making the satirical point transparent: this is about the United States defeating Spain in competition or conflict. Given Judge magazine's American audience and the cartoon's style, this likely references the Spanish-American War (1898) or related tensions. The "game" framing presents military/political confrontation as sport, mocking either American aggression or celebrating American superiority depending on the publication's stance. The caricatured faces suggest ethnic stereotyping common to the era.