Judge — April 18, 1903 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This 1903 Judge cartoon by Gillam satirizes American foreign policy through allegorical imagery. Uncle Sam (depicted as an eagle on the right, decorated with stars) has "hatched" several chick-like creatures labeled with various nations or territories—appearing to include Panama, Cuba, and others. They're contained behind a "U.S. Treasury Yard" fence. The satire critiques American imperial expansion and interventionism in the early 20th century, particularly following the Spanish-American War. The "hatching" metaphor suggests the U.S. created or took control of these territories. The Treasury Yard fence implies these possessions are now the government's financial burden or responsibility to maintain and guard. The cartoon mocks the consequences of America's growing colonial ambitions during the Theodore Roosevelt era.