Judge — December 31, 1898 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Explanation This December 31, 1898 Judge cartoon satirizes American reluctance to address "colonial questions"—likely referring to debates over U.S. imperial expansion following the Spanish-American War. The central image shows an American eagle (representing the nation) wearing the American flag, perched atop a dome labeled "OPEN DOOR" with a megaphone labeled "COLONIAL QUESTIONS" above it. The caption "THE CHIMNEY IS TOO SMALL" quotes "the Administration" saying "Come down here and try the 'open door.'" The satire suggests the U.S. government is avoiding difficult discussions about America's new colonial territories and imperial ambitions—treating serious policy matters as something too large to address through normal channels. The chimney/door metaphor implies these questions cannot be ignored indefinitely.