Judge — February 11, 1899 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Our New Topsy" - Judge Magazine, February 11, 1899 This cartoon satirizes a character named "Topsy" (labeled "Aguinaldo"), referencing the famous enslaved character from *Uncle Tom's Cabin*. The figure appears to be Emilio Aguinaldo, leader of Filipino resistance during the Philippine-American War (1899-1902). The satire compares Aguinaldo to Topsy—a character known for mischief and claiming she "just growed" without proper upbringing. The caption has Topsy boast about being "mighty wicked," suggesting the cartoon portrays Filipino independence fighters as inherently lawless or uncivilized. This reflects American imperialist attitudes of the era, using racist caricature to justify U.S. military intervention in the Philippines. The tropical setting and exaggerated features are typical of period racist imagery used to dehumanize colonial subjects.